29 defence personnel on-board missing AN-32 aircraft presumed dead

New Delhi: As the search operation for AN-32 aircraft that went missing on way to Port Blair over one-and-a-half months ago continues, all 29 defence personnel on-board, including its crew members, have been presumed dead. In identical letters to the families of victims, the IAF has informed that their relatives on-board missing aircraft have been presumed dead.

Defence officials have clarified that the search operation to locate the wreckage of the aircraft has not been called off. "Search for missing AN-32 is still in progress with several ships of Indian Navy, Coast Guard and aircraft from IAF involved in the operation," the official said. "Informing Next of Kin (NOK) is a requirement as per orders and regulations. It should not be confused with a search for the aircraft," the officials said.

The aircraft went missing on July 2 after it took off from Chennai. A massive search operation launched to locate the wreckage did not yield any tangible results with the leads received so far proving to be false. (UNI)