The IAF has, so far, carried out more than 200 sorties in the search and rescue operation to locate the AN-32 plane that went missing on June 3, finally spotting the wreckage on Tuesday this week. A 15-member team, comprising mountaineers of the IAF and Special Forces commandoes, were air-dropped near the crash site in Arunachal Pradesh, on Wednesday and they reached the crash site and are making all-out efforts to bring the mortal remains of the 13 passengers to Jorhat in Assam.
However, inclement weather and rugged terrain is hampering the operation as the mortal remains and the flight data recorder or the black box have to be ferried in helicopters in stages. "The weather continues to be marginal and is likely to affect the pace of recovery operations. The recovery team is braving the treacherous terrain and inclement weather in order to bring back the mortal remains as soon as possible," the IAF said in the latest update on Friday.
Eight helicopters have been deployed for the salvage operation, the IAF said adding around 200 sorties were carried out so far towards the AN-32 search and recovery operations. The next of kin of all personnel on board were informed of the crash and the subsequent search operations undertaken by the IAF. Concerned family members have been apprised of the progress of the recovery operations as well and IAF officials are in regular touch with them. The IAF and all its personnel stand with the families in this hour of grief, the statement said. The IAF on Thursday had said all 13 people on board the aircraft have died.
The Russian-origin AN-32 aircraft was going from Jorhat in Assam to Mechuka advanced landing ground near the border with China on June 3 when it lost contact around half-an-hour after taking off. The wreckage of the plane was found at an altitude of 12,000 feet near Mechuka after eight days of massive search operation.
The effort included SU-30 fighter jets, P-8 I long range reconnaissance aircraft of the Navy and MI-17 and advanced light helicopters. The search was spread over 1,000 sq kms of terrain marked by dense jungles and steep hills and it is feared the plane hit one of the hills and crashed. However, the analysis of the black box or flight data recorder and the court of inquiry will find the cause of the mishap.
