Wreckage of missing IAF aircraft spotted near Lipo in Arunachal Pradesh

June 11: In a significant development, wreckage of the missing Indian Air Force (IAF) AN 32 aircraft has been reportedly spotted nearLipo in Arunachal Pradesh. The AN-32 aircraft went missing after about 35 minutes of getting airborne from Jorhat airport on Monday. The aircraft got airborne from Jorhat air base at 12.25 hrs for Menchuka Advance Landing Ground in Arunachal Pradesh.

The wreckage has been spotted 16 kliomtres north of Lipo of northeast Tato in Arunachal Pradesh. It was spotted at an approximate elevation of 12000 ft, in Arunachal Pradesh by the IAF Mi-17 Helicopter undertaking search in the expanded search zone.

The wreckage of the missing #An32 was spotted today 16 Kms North of Lipo, North East of Tato at an approximate elevation of 12000 ft by the #IAF Mi-17 Helicopter undertaking search in the expanded search zone..

— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) June 11, 2019

The aircraft had gone missing with eight crew members and five passengers. The aircraft, headed to Arunachal Pradesh’s Mechuka, lost all contact with ground staff at around 1 PM on 3 June. Just after the aircraft went missing, IAF launched Sukhoi 30 combat aircraft and C-130 Special Operations aircraft on a search mission.

After identification of the wreckage of #An32 by Mi-17V5, the Cheetah of #IAF & #ALH of #IndianArmy reached the crash site. Due to high elevation & dense forest, helicopters could not land next to the crash site. 1/2

— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) June 11, 2019

IAF coordinated with Indian Army, various government and civil agencies to locate the missing aircraft. Defence minister Rajnath Singh was in constant touch with the Indian Air Force headquarters in New Delhi about the missing aircraft. According to reports, he was in touch with the IAF vice-chief Air Marshal Rakesh Singh Bhaudauria.