Aircraft, ships launch search and rescue operationAn AN-32 transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force has gone missing over the Bay of Bengal at 9:00 a.m. on Friday. Eastern Fleet Commander Rear Adm SV Bokhare has embarked on INS Sahyadri from Port Blair to undertake search for the missing plane. The distance between Chennai and Port Blair is about 750 nautical miles or 1,200 km. “An IAF AN-32 aircraft travelling from Chennai to Port Blair on a courier flight with service personnel was scheduled to arrive at Port Blair at 1130 hrs,” defence officials said. Search And Rescue launchedThe ongoing Search and Rescue (SAR) has been further expanded.

Source: The Hindu July 22, 2016 08:02 UTC