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The Indian Air Force has deployed a Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft P8I airborne from INS Rajali, Arakonam, Tamil Nadu for the ongoing search operations for the missing AN32 aircraft. It will carry out a search using its special radars and sensors for locating the plane.
The IAF yesterday said it had intensified the search operation to trace the AN-32 aircraft that has gone missing in Arunachal Pradesh after taking off from Assam’s Jorhat, and has deployed more assets and roped in the local civic and police agencies in its effort.
The Russian-made aircraft took off from Jorhat at 12.27 pm on Monday for the Mechuka Advanced Landing Ground. Its last contact with the ground control was at 1 pm.
A total of eight aircrew and five passengers were on board the aircraft.
All the three armed forces have deployed their assets to trace the aircraft.
However, the search-and-rescue operation has met with little success so far due to the difficult terrain and rough weather.
Reports say the rescuers have not received any signal from the emergency locator beacon in the missing plane and there is a possibility that the device may not have been functional.
