Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar was briefed on the search operations of missing Air Force aircraft
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Indian Air Force AN-32 aircraft missing with 29 on board
Manohar Parrikar was briefed on the search and rescue operations
The search operation continued through the night
Mr Parrikar was briefed on the search and rescue operations being undertaken by the Navy, Air Force and the Coast Guard, official sources said. "Efforts are on to trace the aircraft," Mr Parrikar tweeted.
The plane left the Tambaram air base near Chennai at 8.30 am on Friday and was to have landed at Port Blair around 11.45 am. It fell off the radar at 9.12 am, 280 km east of Chennai.
((File photo) An Indian Air Force AN-32 aircraft went missing on way to Port Blair
The aircraft, which had six crew members and eight civilians (family members), may have plunged rapidly from an altitude of 23,000 feet, said an officer.
Manohar Parrikar was briefed on the search and rescue operations
"All efforts are being made to trace the missing plane and the service personnel on board," Mr Parrikar said yesterday.
The last call from the aircraft was around 16 minutes after take-off, when the pilot reported that "everything is normal".
The plane has an emergency beacon locator, which is activated when there is a crash. The Navy submarine is expected to track underwater signals from the locator.
The Navy has also sent five surveillance aircraft including a Dornier, and 13 ships - Sahyadri, Rajput, Ranvijay, Kamorta, Kirch, Karmuk, Kora, Kuthar, Shakti, Jyoti, Ghariyal and Sukanya.
There are more than 100 Russian-made AN-32s in service with the IAF. It is an aircraft that can fly for up to four hours without refueling and can operate in all weather conditions.
"These aircraft are very strong, they are used as supply planes for mountains and deserts," said retired Air Force officer Praful Bakshi.
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