The plane was on its regular thrice-a-week ‘courier’ flight to Andaman and Nicobar tri-service joint command. “Aircraft Overdue procedures were initiated by the Command when the aircraft did not report to the ATC Port Blair. India’s southernmost Air Force base at Car Nicobar gets supplies through this aircraft service. Till last reports poured in, the Andaman and Nicobar Command said it received no lead in the search operation. In addition, the air crew consisting of six Indian Air Force personnel were on board.”The Andaman and Nicobar Command depends largely on the supplies brought by this “courier” aircraft thrice a week.

Source: The Hindu July 22, 2016 21:35 UTC