Indian Coast Guard’s aircraft still missing after 24 hours

Chennai

The massive search operation including nine navy and coast guard boats and a P8-1 aircraft launched to trace the three crew members on board a Dornier aircraft which has been missing since Monday night still continues as there are no reported developments.

The aircraft, which belongs to the India’s Coast Guard, was on a routine surveillance sortie over the sea when it went off the radar last located 52 km south of Chennai, capital of Tamil Nadu.

The aircraft was being flown by Deputy Commandant Vidyasagar and had on board two other Deputy Commandants.

Defence spokesman Sitanshu Kar posted on Twitter that, "The missing Dornier a/c was the latest induction in ICG, in 2014, and was being flown by highly experienced crew."

"We are proud of the highly qualified pilots and the navigator. We have launched an unparalleled search mission to save them," said SP Sharma, Inspector General of Coast Guard.