The Indian Coast Guard has launched massive search and rescue operations for a Dornier aircraft that has gone missing since Monday night off the Puducherry coast.
There were two pilots and a navigator on board the German-made fixed wing aircraft when it went missing around 10 p.m. on Monday, a senior Coast Guard official told The Hindu .
Eight ships and two aircraft of the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard were pressed into search and rescue operations in the area, he said.
Sources said the missing aircraft had been deployed for surveillance of the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coastline. It lost contact when it was about 27 nautical miles south east off Cuddalore and 32 nautical miles north-east off Karaikal. The search team is homing in on a location about 15 nautical miles off the coast, between Thirumullaivasal and Thirukadayur, in Nagapattinam district.
An official added that district officials and port authorities have also been alerted. Fishermen have been advised through radio and other modes to pass on any information that they may come across.
The search and rescue effort is being driven by Coast Guard interceptor boats from Puducherry and Karaikal. Five Coast Guard ships, four naval ships and long range maritime surveillance aircraft- P-81 have been pressed into service.
One ICG Dornier a/c on a routine surveillance sortie over sea, off Chennai coast, is overdue since 2200 hr last night. SAR on.
— Sitanshu Kar (@SpokespersonMoD) >June 9, 2015
The missing Dornier a/c was the latest induction in ICG, in 2014, and was being flown by highly experienced crew.
— Sitanshu Kar (@SpokespersonMoD) >June 9, 2015>#ICGDornier The last contact with a/c was at 2100 hr and Trichy radar tracked it till 2123 Hr 95 NM South off Chennai.
— Sitanshu Kar (@SpokespersonMoD) >June 9, 2015>#ICGDornier 5 ICG & 4 IN ships, aircraft including LRMS a/c P8I are conducting SAR 4 the missing Dornier (File pic) >pic.twitter.com/NpHilImFpK
— Sitanshu Kar (@SpokespersonMoD) >June 9, 2015(With inputs from Dinakar Peri)
