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Indian Air Force Plane With 29 Aboard Disappears Indian Air Force Plane With 29 Aboard Disappears
(about 13 hours later)
NEW DELHI — An Indian Air Force plane with 29 people on board is missing over the Indian Ocean, officials said on Friday.NEW DELHI — An Indian Air Force plane with 29 people on board is missing over the Indian Ocean, officials said on Friday.
The aircraft, an AN-32, left the southern port city of Chennai at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, said Capt. D. K. Sharma, a spokesman for the Indian Navy in New Delhi.The aircraft, an AN-32, left the southern port city of Chennai at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, said Capt. D. K. Sharma, a spokesman for the Indian Navy in New Delhi.
The plane was expected to land at Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, at 11:30 a.m. but never arrived, Captain Sharma said. It last made contact at 8:46 a.m., a spokesman for the air force said in a televised interview.The plane was expected to land at Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, at 11:30 a.m. but never arrived, Captain Sharma said. It last made contact at 8:46 a.m., a spokesman for the air force said in a televised interview.
There were 29 people on board, mostly service personnel, said Nitin Wakankar, a spokesman for the Defense Ministry in New Delhi.There were 29 people on board, mostly service personnel, said Nitin Wakankar, a spokesman for the Defense Ministry in New Delhi.
The navy has begun a search-and-rescue operation, Captain Sharma said. More than 10 ships have been deployed, according to the Navy’s Twitter account. Mr. Wakankar said that four air force planes were also deployed in the search. The navy has begun a search-and-rescue operation, Captain Sharma said. More than 10 ships have been deployed, according to the navy’s Twitter account. Mr. Wakankar said that four air force planes were also deployed in the search.
“So far, we have no trace of the missing aircraft,” Mr. Wakankar said.“So far, we have no trace of the missing aircraft,” Mr. Wakankar said.
The armed forces maintain a large presence in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a strategically located archipelago.The armed forces maintain a large presence in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a strategically located archipelago.
The distance between Chennai and Port Blair is more than 800 miles.The distance between Chennai and Port Blair is more than 800 miles.