Shillong: The wreckage of the missing AN-32 was located by a Mi-17 helicopter on June 11, following which a team of 15 mountaineers was dropped near the crash site, the very next day for rescue operations. They were joined by three more mountaineers and the mortal remains of all the 13 deceased Air warriors, FDR and CVR were recovered at the site. Helicopters, including Mi17s, Cheetah and ALH have been unable to approach the site during the last three days because of the nasty weather in the valleys and cloud cover over the crash site.
Shillong: The wreckage of the missing AN-32 was located by a Mi-17 helicopter on June 11, following which a team of 15 mountaineers was dropped near the crash site, the very next day for rescue operations. They were joined by three more mountaineers and the mortal remains of all the 13 deceased Air warriors, FDR and CVR were recovered at the site. Helicopters, including Mi17s, Cheetah and ALH have been unable to approach the site during the last three days because of the nasty weather in the valleys and cloud cover over the crash site.
"Retrieval operations require the steep mountainsides to be visible for the helicopters to hover close to the crash site safely and for the operating crew to be able to see the personnel on the ground. The IAF has actively coordinated with the State administration at all levels. A ground team comprising Garud commandos of the IAF, SF of the Indian Army, civilian porters and hunters are already on their way to the accident site on foot. The first element of this trekking party is likely to reach the site late on June 19. No efforts are being spared by the IAF personnel to ensure that the mortal remains of their brothers in arms are retrieved at the earliest. The Army and Arunachal Pradesh State administration have all along provided steadfast support," stated Shillong-based IAF Spokesperson Wing Commander, Ratnakar Singh.
On June 3, the AN-32 aircraft lost contact with the control room when it was flying from Assam to Arunachal Pradesh. As the vehicle lost control within half an hour after taking off, officials suspected that the aircraft would have crashed. The wreckage of the plane was spotted by an IAF chopper on Tuesday at a height of 12,000 ft near Gatte village on the border of Siang and Shi-Yomi districts, after eight days of a massive search operation involving a fleet of aircraft and choppers as well as ground forces.
"Retrieval operations require the steep mountainsides to be visible for the helicopters to hover close to the crash site safely and for the operating crew to be able to see the personnel on the ground. The IAF has actively coordinated with the State administration at all levels. A ground team comprising Garud commandos of the IAF, SF of the Indian Army, civilian porters and hunters are already on their way to the accident site on foot. The first element of this trekking party is likely to reach the site late on June 19. No efforts are being spared by the IAF personnel to ensure that the mortal remains of their brothers in arms are retrieved at the earliest. The Army and Arunachal Pradesh State administration have all along provided steadfast support," stated Shillong-based IAF Spokesperson Wing Commander, Ratnakar Singh.
On June 3, the AN-32 aircraft lost contact with the control room when it was flying from Assam to Arunachal Pradesh. As the vehicle lost control within half an hour after taking off, officials suspected that the aircraft would have crashed. The wreckage of the plane was spotted by an IAF chopper on Tuesday at a height of 12,000 ft near Gatte village on the border of Siang and Shi-Yomi districts, after eight days of a massive search operation involving a fleet of aircraft and choppers as well as ground forces.