Missing AN-32: No Effort Will Be Spared to Find It, Says IAF Chief

Bad weather posed a major challenge to the search, after which the authorities sought satellite images of the area.

Indian Air Force personnel stand guard outside Tambaram Air Force station in Chennai. (Photo: IANS)

On Monday, the Indian Coast Guard addressed a press conference on the missing IAF AN-32. During the conference, it was confirmed that the search operations are underway on the fourth day since the flight went missing.

This is the fourth day of search operations conducted by Coast Guard, IAF and Indian Navy. Search area has been expanded gradually. Aircrafts were launched by respective services to carry out a linear search; 12 air sorties were undertaken.  As of now, at sea we have 13 naval vessels and two Coast Guard ships deployed from east coast. We have not located any debris till now, search is continuing. We have taken help from Government departments like ISRO.

Rajan Bargotra, Inspector General Coast Guard

The Indian Airforce (IAF) Chief also commented on the issue and called it “unfortunate”:

It is very unfortunate that we have not been able to trace the missing aircraft and the personnel on board. It is a very difficult moment for all of us and we share the concerns of the distraught family members.

Arup Raha, Air Chief Marshal, IAF

Search map for the missing AN-32. (Photo Courtesy: Twitter/ShivAroor)

The search for the Indian Air Force’s AN-32 aircraft – which went missing over the Bay of Bengal enroute with 29 defence personnel on board three days ago – was intensified on Sunday after Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) satellite imagery pointed to possible floating objects, but nothing has been found yet.

“Indigenous imagery satellite did give us some pointers to possible floating objects. The areas indicated are being searched intensively by ships and aircraft. Nothing sighted as yet,” defence sources said.

A total of 12 Naval ships and four Indian Coast Guard vessels, along with 17 aircraft from the Indian Air Force, Indian Navy and ICG have been mobilised for the search operation.

Also Read: Missing: Outdated Technology Hurting Indian Air Force?

“The weather improved marginally, thereby aiding deployment of additional assets and aiding intensification of the search in a larger area. The sea state, however, continues to be rough, making the conditions challenging,” a statement by the MoD said.

While the IAF authorities lodged a formal complaint, for legal purposes, with Tamil Nadu police over the missing AN-32 aircraft, Eastern Naval Command Chief Vice Admiral HCS Bisht said:

The depth of water there is about 3,500 metres and in some places, it is even more. As the depth increases, challenges also increase.

He also said that the family members are being updated on a regular basis.

(With inputs from PTI and ANI.)

Also Read:
Missing IAF AN-32: Search Ongoing Despite Rough Weather Conditions
AN-32 Still Missing: Outdated Technology Hurting Indian Air Force?