ENC deploys two P8i Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft with advanced Electro-optics and radars, two Dornier aircraft and twelve ships with integral helicopters to join the search operations initiated to locate the Indian Air Force AN-32 transport aircraft reported missing approx 300 km due East of Chennai this morning. The AN-32 was on a routine sortie from Air Force Station Tambaram to Port Blair and reported to have 29 personnel on board including the crew.
Four ships of ENC which were deployed in the Bay of Bengal on different missions, have been diverted to the search area and eight ships of Eastern Fleet with Fleet Cdr embarked onboard which are on return passage from the South China Sea are also proceeding at best speed to join the search operations. A submarine at sea is also diverted to the area for locating the transmissions from emergency locator beacon onboard the aircraft.
ENC: Eastern Naval Command