What happened to AN-32?

Vishnu Sharmaa, INN/Chennai, @Svs037 

The southern state of Tamilnadu has become a part of the search operation that commenced to trace the missing AN-32 transport aircraft of Indian Air Force (IAF), it can be said. The aircraft went missing on June 3 sometime after it took off from Jorhat in Assam.

P8i, long range maritime reconnaissance aircraft of Indian Navy took off from naval base INS Rajali to become a part of the search operation, say sources.

While the question as to what would have happened to AN-32 would continue to bother us, it is worth reminding that even Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has become part of the attempt to trace the transport aircraft.

ISRO has put into service Risat series satellite for the search work. The aircraft took off from its base at Jorhat to reach Mechuka Advanced Landing Ground in Arunachal Pradesh. 

According to sources from Defence Ministry, flight took off at 12.27 pm on June 3, and its last contact with the ground staff took place at 1.00 pm. 
There was no contact afterwards, say sources. As the aircraft went missing IAF initiated overdue actions. A team of eight crew and five passengers were said to be traveling in the aircraft.

C-130, AN-32 aircrafts and two Mi-17 helicopters of IAF went into search mode looking for the plane that went missing. Even advanced light helicopters (ALHs) of Indian Army were also put into service.

Helicopters were also sent to the location which was believed to be the crash site, according to certain ground reports. However, no wreckage was detected at the supposed crash spot. The search operation which began soon after the aircraft had to come to a halt owing to unfavorable weather. 

The search is said to have resumed on 4 June as the weather has cleared. Sources further point out that more assets are likely to be pressed into service for locating the missing aircraft.