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Indian military plane missing over Bay of Bengal with 29 on board Indian military plane missing over Bay of Bengal with 29 on board
(about 2 hours later)
The Indian Air Force says it has lost contact with a transport plane with 29 people on board over the Bay of Bengal.The Indian Air Force says it has lost contact with a transport plane with 29 people on board over the Bay of Bengal.
The Antonov-32 took off from Chennai (Madras) in southern India at 8.30am local time and was scheduled to land in the coastal city of Port Blair, capital of the Andaman and Nicobar islands, at 11.30am.The Antonov-32 took off from Chennai (Madras) in southern India at 8.30am local time and was scheduled to land in the coastal city of Port Blair, capital of the Andaman and Nicobar islands, at 11.30am.
The last radar contact with the plane, which was carrying service personnel and six crew members, was at 8.46am, according to AirLive.net. The flight, covering 1,375 kilometers (854 miles), was supposed to last three hours but there was no contact for nearly three hours beyond its arrival time.
Indian air force spokeman Anupam Banerjee told reporters that the last communication from the aircraft was about 15 minutes after take-off. 
Nitin Wakanker, a spokesman for India's defense ministry, said the Russian-made aircraft could go for four hours without refueling.
The flight was supposed to last three hours but there was no contact for nearly three hours beyond its arrival time.The flight was supposed to last three hours but there was no contact for nearly three hours beyond its arrival time.
Nitin Wakanker, a spokesman for India's defense ministry, said the Russian-made aircraft could go for four hours without refueling. 
A massive search by the air force, navy and coast guard has been launched.A massive search by the air force, navy and coast guard has been launched.