• A transport plane of the Indian Air Force with 29 people on board went missing today, July 22, while flying from Chennai to Port Blair
• The AN-32 aircraft took off at 0830 hours from Tambaram in Chennai and the last contact with it was made 16 minutes later
• A massive search operation has been launched by the IAF, Navy and the Coast Guard

A transport plane of the Indian Air Force with 29 people on board went missing today, July 22, while flying from Chennai to Port Blair.

The AN-32 aircraft took off at 0830 hours from Tambaram in Chennai and the last contact with it was made 16 minutes later, Defence Ministry officials said.

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The aircraft was flying from Chennai to Port Blair. Those on board included six crew members.

Officials said it was "courier flight" with service personnel on board. A major search and rescue operation has been launched by the Indian Navy in the Bay of Bengal.

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The aircraft can fly for up to four hours without refuelling.

Navy officials said that one P-8I surveillance aircraft, one Dornier and four ships have been deployed in the search and rescue operation and more assets are being dispatched. (IANS)

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