Missing IAF AN-32 Pilot’s Wife Was on ATC Duty at Time of Incident

The couple had gotten married in February 2018.

(Photo Courtesy: Facebook)

Ashish Tanwar, the IAF pilot who was flying the AN-32 aircraft that went missing on Monday, 3 June, got married to Sandhya in February 2018, who was posted at the Johrat base last year.

Tragedy struck the couple on Monday, when the AN-32 went missing soon after taking off from the Jorhat base in Assam.

Incidentally, Ashish’s wife, Sandhya, was on Air Traffic Control duty when the AN-32 aircraft went missing, The Indian Express reported.

Speaking to ANI, Ashish Tanwar’s mother, on Tuesday, 6 June, urged the Ministry of Home Affairs to step in and speed up the investigation efforts, since it has been four days since her son went missing along with others.

“I want my child. It’s been almost four days now but till now nothing has happened. I request MHA to look into the matter and investigate.”

Ashish Tanwar’s Mother

The daily quoted Ashish’s uncle as saying that the flight had lost contact with the base at around 1 pm, but Sandhya informed everyone about the incident about an hour later.

According to The Indian Express report, Ashish’s father has gone to Assam to meet the authorities and get updates, while his mother is still recovering from the shock.

Ashish had joined the Indian Air Force after completing his training in 2015, when he was sent to the Jorhat camp. Ashish and Sandhya had met in the camp after Sandhya joined last year.

It was an arranged marriage, according to the report.

Ashish’s uncle, Shiv Narain, further told The Indian Express that the couple had gone to Palwal, Ashish’s hometown on 2 May, after which the two went to Bangkok for a holiday on 18 May. From there, they headed to Assam.

“None of us imagined something like this would happen. Less than 20 days back, they were both right here.”

Shiv Narain, Ashish’s Uncle

(With inputs from The Indian Express and ANI)