It has been seven days since an Antonov AN-32 of the Indian Air Force (IAF) went missing in Arunachal Pradesh but search and rescue parties have still not been able to find it.

On Monday, the IAF said that aerial search and rescue operations (SAR) were carried out by helicopters and C-130s during the day.

Advertisement

The C-130s and UAVs will try to locate the missing aircraft through the night.

“No sightings as yet,” the IAF said in an update.

The AN-32 went missing on 3 June when it was flying from Jorhat to the Mechuka Advanced Landing Ground with 13 personnel on board. Mechuka is a small town in Arunachal’s West Siang district bordering China.

The IAF aircraft had last contacted ground sources at 1 pm after taking off from Jorhat airbase at 12.25 pm. Of the 13 personnel, seven are officers and the rest air warriors.

A reward of Rs 5 lakh was announced by IAF for anyone who can provide credible information to help locate the missing aircraft.

“Air Marshal RD Mathur, AOC-in-C, Eastern Air Command, has announced a cash award of Rs 5 lakhs for the person(s) or group who provide credible information leading to finding of the missing AN-32 transport aircraft,” Defence PRO, Wing Commander Ratnakar Singh, said on Saturday.

Phone numbers for sharing information relating to the aircraft are – 9436499477/9402077267/9402132477.

On Thursday, 6 June, the IAF had informed that it has further intensified and expanded the search for the missing AN-32.

“Fighter aircraft, C130, Helicopters, aircraft carrying specialised sensors, satellites and all possible civil, police and local administrative agencies have further expanded search based on human and sensor inputs,” the IAF said in a tweet.

The Indian Navy had on Tuesday also deployed its long-range Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft P8I to join the rescue operation for the missing flight.

ISRO too was brought in to enhance the effectiveness of the search operations.

The IAF on Friday also deployed NTRO spy satellites to help in the search of the missing AN-32 aircraft.

According to ANI, the IAF deployed Aviation Research Centre’s Global 5000 surveillance aircraft along with other assets to locate the aircraft.

The spy satellites and the aircraft have specialist sensors, which can help in getting better imagery on ground.