The Indian Air Force has announced a reward of Rs 5 lakh for information on the missing AN-32 aircraft. An intensive search operation was launched by the Indian Air Force, along with other forces to locate the missing plane.
“Air Marshal RD Mathur, AOC-in-C, Eastern Air Command, has announced a cash award of Rs 5 lakhs for the person or group who provide credible information leading to the finding of the missing AN-32 transport aircraft,” Defence PRO, Wing Commander Ratnakar Singh said.
The Antonov-32 aircraft has now been missing for 8 days and the forces have been unsuccessful in locating it even after constant attempts.
“We are just waiting for some positive news. We hope to see our Bravehearts come back home. The government and the ground troops need to be more efficient and realise how important this search operation is,” brother of Flt Lt Mohit Kumar Garg, one of the pilots on board told The Logical Indian.
‘Missing AN-32 Plane With 13 Onboard’
On June 6, residents of an Arunachal Pradesh village reported that they saw a thick black smoke near a mountain on Monday, the day AN-32 carrying 13 people went missing.
The authorities of Siang and West Siang districts have formulated three teams to carry out search operations in the mountain ranges that were on the aircraft’s route.
The Indian Air Force AN-32 aircraft took off from Jorhat, Assam on June 3, with 13 people onboard and went missing near Mechuka in West Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh.
It lost contact with the ground control around 1 pm. Eight crew members and five passengers were on the aircraft.
Combined Efforts By All Forces, No Traces Found
IAF, Navy and Army helicopters, UAVs and C-130J aircraft participated in the search operations but landed back shortly due to unfavourable weather and low clouds. However, the ground forces have continued to cover the mountainous area for the search operations.
On June 5, the Navy and the Indian Space Research Organisation joined the search operation. While the Navy deployed a long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft, the space agency used its RISAT series of radar-imaging satellites.
The Indian Air Force on June 6 made a statement that it had increased and expanded the search mission “despite challenges posed by vegetation, inhospitable terrain and poor weather”.
On June 7, the Air Force deployed four Mi-17 helicopters, three Advanced Light Helicopters, two Sukhoi-30 aircraft, one C-130 transporter aircraft and one Army’s Unmanned Aerial Vehicle for the search and rescue operations. As per reports, now seven mountaineers have also joined in the search operation
The Logical Indian spoke to the brother-in-law of Flt Lt Ashish Tanwar, one of the pilots who were on board. “It has been 8 days and the plane hasn’t been traced. With 13 people on board, the aircraft has been missing for 8 days and we see no help from the government or the Prime Minister. No one has tried to talk to the China Government and find out if the plane had entered their territory.”
“The nation is busy discussing Dhoni’s gloves and other issues but not this. What is the nation’s priority? Why is no one talking about this? Why was Abhinandan’s issue highlighted so much?” he further said.
Sandhya Tanwar, wife of Flt Lt Ashish Tanwar was on duty at the IAF’s Air Traffic Control (ATC) in Jorhat, as her husband Ashish Tanwar piloted AN-32 aircraft that took off from the airbase Menchuka in Arunachal Pradesh on Monday.
Barely half an hour later, the plane could not be detected by the radar and Sandhya was one of the first to know about the disappearance of the IAF transport aircraft that had 12 others on board.
Search Operations Reviewed by Top Officials
Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa analysed the entire search operation at a high-level meeting in Assam’s Jorhat air base.
“Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa was given a detailed briefing about the operations and was apprised with the inputs received so far. He interacted with families of the officers and airmen who were on board the aircraft,” an IAF spokesperson said.
The IAF has been regularly been in touch with the families of all air warriors on the aircraft regarding the rescue operation.
“Resources from various agencies including ISRO were brought into the operation to enhance its effectiveness. The area of search is mountainous and heavily forested with thick undergrowth,” the IAF said in a statement.
