IAF cargo aircraft with 12 defence personnel goes missing midair
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Guwahati, India, June 10 - An IAF cargo aircraft with 12 defence personnel on board went missing midair Tuesday after it took off from a forward military base in the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, bordering China, officials said.
An Indian Air Force (IAF) spokesperson said the AN 32 cargo plane went missing midair after it took from Mechuka in Arunachal Pradesh, bordering China’s Tibet region.
“The aircraft went missing soon after it took off from Mechuka and there is no trace so far. The plane was carrying 12 defence personnel, including two pilots,” IAF spokesperson Wing Commander Ranjit Sahu said.
The aircraft was on its way back to its base in Jorhat in eastern Assam from Mechuka, a military forward position located in Arunachal Pradesh’s West Siang district, bordering China.
There were eight army soldiers and four IAF personnel, including the two pilots, on board the AN 32.
“IAF helicopters conducted a search operation in the entire stretch but failed to trace the missing aircraft. Search operations would resume Wednesday morning and we don’t know about the fate of the aircraft and those on board,” Sahu said.
The AN-32 is the workhorse of the transport fleet traveling to far off bases to deliver much-needed supplies to the army soldiers.
“The aircraft took off from Mechuka that has an advanced landing ground facility after delivering essentials and other supplies to the soldiers,” the IAF official said.
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