IAF leads massive operation in Arunachal Pradesh to reach AN-32 crash site

Itanagar, June 12

The Indian Air Force, Army and the civil administration of Arunachal Pradesh started a massive operation on Wednesday to reach the site where the AN-32 aircraft of the Indian Air Force had crashed on June 3, a defence official said.

“The rescue mission of inducting teams to the crash site, by helicopters has begun. Mi17s and ALH from army are being utilised,” said defence PRO Wing Commander Ratnakar Singh said on Wednesday morning.

The site where the wreckage of the AN-32 has been spotted is located 16 km north of Lipo and about 12 to 15 km west of Gatte under Payum region of Shi Yomi district.

The wreckage was spotted on Tuesday afternoon when the joint teams of IAF, Army and the civil administration carried out aerial survey in the area.

Although the IAF has spotted the wreckage, nothing is yet clear about the fate of the 13 on board the aircraft when it had taken off on June 3 from the Jorhat airbase for Mechuka advanced landing ground in Arunachal Pradesh. IANS