GUWAHATI, June 10 – The wreckage of the AN 32 aircraft of the Indian Air Force, which went missing since last afternoon was found today in a jungle area in Arunachal Pradesh and it is feared that all the 13 men on board were killed in the crash. Defence Public Relations Officer (PRO) Col R Kalia said today that the wreckage was found in a dense forest area five kilometers north west of Tato in Arunachal Pradesh at around 3 pm today and “it is feared that there is no survivor.”
Col Kalia revealed that the aircraft with 13 persons on board left for Jorhat from Menchuka base in Arunachal Pradesh yesterday and it went missing since 2 pm, a few minutes after its take off. The craft was on a routine sortie and those on board the craft included six crew members and one ground staff of the Air Force and six Army personnel, who were coming to Jorhat from their base. During such routine sorties, it is common for the Air Force to carry passengers, particularly defence personnel.
A massive manhunt was launched this morning and at first attempts were made by helicopters to find the wreckage of the missing craft early in the morning. But that attempt failed as the helicopters sent out in search of the missing craft had to turn back because of bad weather. Later, patrols of Army and ITDP personnel were sent out and the wreckage was located this afternoon.
Defence sources said that the persons who were on board the ill fated craft included Wing Commander Bhutalia, Squadron leader P Siddharth, Flight Lieutenant Varun Kumar, Wing Commander Shaji, Squadron Leader Manas Mishra, MWO Ramesh and AC Sanjoy Kumar of the Air Force and Army personnel Vijay Singh, AK Tirki, K Kumar, S Kumar, R Wangchuck and N Whegh.
Though the cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained, Defence sources said that overloading was not a cause. Such cargo crafts can carry up to 40 persons on board. Sources also said that the craft might have faced rough weather on way but “it is a fact that the weather conditions must have been all right when the craft took off as no aircraft takes off unless the weather conditions are found suitable at the time of taking off.”
AssamTribune
Col Kalia revealed that the aircraft with 13 persons on board left for Jorhat from Menchuka base in Arunachal Pradesh yesterday and it went missing since 2 pm, a few minutes after its take off. The craft was on a routine sortie and those on board the craft included six crew members and one ground staff of the Air Force and six Army personnel, who were coming to Jorhat from their base. During such routine sorties, it is common for the Air Force to carry passengers, particularly defence personnel.
A massive manhunt was launched this morning and at first attempts were made by helicopters to find the wreckage of the missing craft early in the morning. But that attempt failed as the helicopters sent out in search of the missing craft had to turn back because of bad weather. Later, patrols of Army and ITDP personnel were sent out and the wreckage was located this afternoon.
Defence sources said that the persons who were on board the ill fated craft included Wing Commander Bhutalia, Squadron leader P Siddharth, Flight Lieutenant Varun Kumar, Wing Commander Shaji, Squadron Leader Manas Mishra, MWO Ramesh and AC Sanjoy Kumar of the Air Force and Army personnel Vijay Singh, AK Tirki, K Kumar, S Kumar, R Wangchuck and N Whegh.
Though the cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained, Defence sources said that overloading was not a cause. Such cargo crafts can carry up to 40 persons on board. Sources also said that the craft might have faced rough weather on way but “it is a fact that the weather conditions must have been all right when the craft took off as no aircraft takes off unless the weather conditions are found suitable at the time of taking off.”
AssamTribune
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