AN-32 rescue update: 4 Garud commandos airdropped at crash site for search operation

In an update to Indian Air Force's rescue operation of the crashed AN-32 aircraft which went missing after taking off from Jorhat airbase in Assam, the IAF, on Wednesday has tweeted that additional resources have been mobilised to search for survivors adding that 4 Garud commandos have been airdropped near the crash site near Payum circle in Siang district in Arunachal Pradesh, where the debris was found on Tuesday.

AN-32 Debris Found: IAF Locates Wreckage Of Missing AN-32 Aircraft In Arunachal Pradesh's Siang District

Earlier on Tuesday, the IAF had confirmed the news giving the precise location of the debris found. It added that an IAF helicopter is undertaking a search in the zone.

Indian Air force had lost contact with an AN-32 Aircraft on last Monday, which was overdue to arrive at the Menchuka Advanced Landing Ground at Arunachal Pradesh.

The aircraft which was a  transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force, made the last contact with ground sources at 1 PM after taking off from the Jorhat airbase in Assam at 12:25 PM. There had reportedly been no contact since. All 13 persons on board the aircraft were air warriors - 8 crew and 5 passengers.

IAF Launches Search Operation After Loss Of Contact With AN-32 Aircraft Which Took Off From Jorhat

The Indian Air Force (IAF) which had initially launched a search operation for the missing aircraft using a Sukhoi-30 combat aircraft and a C-130 Special Ops aircraft, intensified the search in the successive days roping in the help of Indian Army, police, paramilitary forces, and the local population. The Government of Arunachal Pradesh ably assisted the forces in the search and rescue, with the Chief Minister and Chief Secretary monitoring the operation directly.

While the weather conditions have been poor, hampering the search for the jet on many occasions, the IAF has been committed in its search operation with keep a continuous on-ground search operation throughout nights.

AN-32 Pilot's Wife Was On Duty In ATC In Assam's Jorhat, One Of The First People To See Aircraft Going Off Radar

On Friday, the IAF announced hat a P-8I aircraft has undertaken a search mission from Arakonnam along with helicopters, transport aircraft, UAVs & other sensors.

Incidentally, Sandhya Tanwar was on duty at the IAF's Air Traffic Control in Jorhat, watching as her husband Ashish Tanwar piloted an AN-32 aircraft that took off from the airbase on the fateful Monday afternoon. Barely half an hour later, the plane went off the radar, leaving the young Tanwar to be one of the first to know about the disappearance of the IAF transport aircraft that had 12 others on board.