Indian Air Force (IAF) transport aircraft AN-32 carrying eight crew members and five other passengers has gone missing after it got airborne from Jorhat airbase at 12:25pm on Monday.
The aircraft took off for Menchuka Advance Landing Ground in Arunachal Pradesh.
Taking immediate cognizance of the matter, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in a tweet, "Spoke to Vice Chief of @IAF_MCC, Air Marshal Rakesh Singh Bhadauria regarding the missing IAF AN-32 Aircraft which is overdue for some hours. He has apprised me of the steps taken by the IAF to find the missing aircraft. I pray for the safety of all passengers on board,"
The aircraft last contacted ground agencies at 1pm, thereafter there has been no contact. Since the aircraft did not reach the airfield, overdue action was initiated, sources in the Air Force said.
All available resources have been employed to locate the aircraft, sources added.
The An-32 is a Russian-designed twin engine turboprop transport aircraft used extensively by the Indian Air Force for over four decades.
Indian Air Force (IAF) transport aircraft AN-32 carrying eight crew members and five other passengers has gone missing after it got airborne from Jorhat airbase at 12:25pm on Monday.
The aircraft took off for Menchuka Advance Landing Ground in Arunachal Pradesh.
Taking immediate cognizance of the matter, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in a tweet, "Spoke to Vice Chief of @IAF_MCC, Air Marshal Rakesh Singh Bhadauria regarding the missing IAF AN-32 Aircraft which is overdue for some hours. He has apprised me of the steps taken by the IAF to find the missing aircraft. I pray for the safety of all passengers on board,"
The aircraft last contacted ground agencies at 1pm, thereafter there has been no contact. Since the aircraft did not reach the airfield, overdue action was initiated, sources in the Air Force said.
All available resources have been employed to locate the aircraft, sources added.
The An-32 is a Russian-designed twin engine turboprop transport aircraft used extensively by the Indian Air Force for over four decades.
