New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Army today began rescue and search operations for the survivors of the AN-32 crash, a day after wreckage of the missing transport aircraft was spotted in the dense forests of a remote area in Arunachal Pradesh.
The wreckage of the ill-fated aircraft was traced 16 kilometres North of Lipo, North East of Tato at an altitude of 12,000 feet, eight days after it went missing after taking off from Assam’s Jorhat.
The Cheetah of IAF and ALH of Indian Army reached the crash site. However, the helicopters could not land next to the crash site due to high elevation and dense forest, media reports stated.
The Indian Army has deployed Mi-17s and Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) for the search and rescue operation of 13 personnel onboard the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) AN-32, reports added.
Notably, thirteen passengers including Odia Flight Lieutenant Sunit Mohanty were onboard the IAF chopper when it went missing on June 3 after taking off from the Jorhat air base.