IAF carried out over 200 sorties in AN-32 search & rescue op so far
The IAF has, so far, carried out more than 200 sorties in the search and rescue operation to locate the AN-32 plane that went missing on June 3, finally spotting the wreckage on Tuesday this week. A 15-member team, comprising mountaineers of the IAF and Special Forces commandoes, were air-dropped near the crash site in Arunachal Pradesh, on Wednesday and they reached the crash site and are making all-out efforts to bring the mortal remains of the 13 passengers to Jorhat in Assam.
However, inclement weather and rugged terrain is hampering the operation as the mortal remains and the flight data recorder or the black box have to be ferried in helicopters in stages. “The weather continues to be marginal and is likely to affect the pace of recovery operations. The recovery team is braving the treacherous terrain and inclement weather in order to bring back the mortal remains as soon as possible,” the IAF said in the latest update on Friday.
Eight helicopters have been deployed for the salvage operation, the IAF said adding around 200 sorties were carried out so far towards the AN-32 search and recovery operations. The next of kin of all personnel on board were informed of the crash and the subsequent search operations undertaken by the IAF.
