AMN / NEW DELHI

A team comprising Indian Air Force, Army and local Mountaineers has left for the crash site of the AN-32 aircraft in helicopters to Arunachal Pradesh today. Siang District Deputy Commissioner Rajeev Takuk informed that the team will have to first look out for a suitable landing place near the site or may have to air-drop the team by a fixed rope.

The place where the wreckage has been detected has very dense vegetation with steep mountainous terrain. Mi-17s and ALH Advanced Light Helicopters of the Indian army are being used for the mission.

Mr Takuk also said the specific location of the crash site is at Parre Hills near Gatte Village in Siang District. As of now, there is no report of the 13 crew members aboard. The ill-fated Indian Air Force AN-32 Aircraft with 13 persons on board went missing on June 3rd while on its flight to Mechuka in Si-Yomi district in Arunachal Pradesh from Jorhat in Assam.

Since then a massive search and rescue operation on foot and air was conducted. The wreckage of the AN-32 aircraft was detected by aerial search team yesterday after 9 days.