The IAF aircraft was last spotted on the radar by Air Traffic Control officials at 9:15 am. The IAF aircraft was last spotted on the radar by Air Traffic Control officials at 9:15 am.

An Indian Air Force plane carrying 23 personnel and six crew members, onboard went missing Friday while making its way back to Port Blair from Chennai. The An-32 aircraft, which was on a routine courier-run, took off from Chennai at 8.30 am and was expected to arrive at 11.30 am at Port Blair. The aircraft, however, went missing at 9.15 am after climbing to an altitude of 23,000 feet.

Rescue operations are currently underway to locate the aircraft. But extensive searches have not so far been able to locate the aircraft. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said that all efforts are being made to trace the aircraft and the service personnel on board.

Five military planes and four Navy warships have been dispatched to assist rescue efforts in Bay of Bengal. Media reports claim that bad weather could have played a role in forcing the aircraft off its flight path.

Three snags were reported in the same An-32 aircraft in the month of July itself. The An-32 aircraft is a twin-engined turboprop military transport aircraft.

Flight path of the An-32 aircraft. Flight path of the An-32 aircraft.

IAF’s AN-32 missing: All you need to know about the aircraft

LIVE UPDATES:

#SAROps Total number if ships deployed by IN& ICG now 17 (12+5). Total Ac on search mission >6. Search to continue 24×7 — SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) July 22, 2016

9.36 pm: Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard have deployed 17 ships totally in the ongoing search operation. More than 6 aircraft are also part of the operation. The serch operation is expected to continue for another day, said the Indian Navy.

7.00 pm: Dr Subhash Ramrao Bhamre, MoS Defence said the incident took place 270 kms away from Chennai. He said that massive rescue operations were on to find the missing IAF plane. The rescue operations according to Bhamre may continue in the night as well. Bhamre also said that the families of all those who were on board the plane have been informed.

WATCH VIDEO: Indian Air Force’s An-32 Plane Goes Missing

6.46 pm: This aircraft was overhauled at the base repair depot in Kanpur and has clocked 279 flying hours so far.

5.52 pm: Sylendra Babu, ADGP of Tamil Nadu Coastal Security Group said that local Fishermen communities have been informed to report about any suspicious floating objects

5.51 pm: Tamil Nadu Coastal Security Group has deployed 12 fast moving interceptors from Chennai to Rameshwaram region to join search operations

5.33 pm: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said that all efforts were being made to trace the missing An-32 transport plane of IAF and the service personnel onboard.

3.30 pm: Three snags were reported in the same An-32 aircraft this month.

3.09 pm: The worst accident involving An-32 aircraft was on April 1, 1992 when two aircraft crashed after mid air collision near Ludhiana in Punjab.

2:32 pm: We have launched two P-8I’s, one of which was diverted, and three Dornier planes. Sharma, however, didn’t confirm the number of personnel on the missing aircraft: D K Sharma.

Fullscale SAR lched by Indian Navy 2 look for IAF AN 32 ac overdue at INS Utkrosh PB since 1130h @SpokespersonMoD pic.twitter.com/fIDQQyz8ER — SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) July 22, 2016

2:31 pm: Captain D K Sharma, Navy PRO, said an overdue procedure has been issued and the navy has launched full scale SAR to look for the aircraft. He also said the aircraft started from Chennai at 8:30 it was supposed to land at Port Blair at 11:30.

2:23 pm: Personnel on board missing Indian Force An-32 include one from Coast Guard, 11 navy personnel, three Air Force pilots and two from Andaman Command, said an India Today report.

2:00 pm: IAF An-32 plane airborne from Tambaram Airbase of Chennai to Port Blair which went missing, had 23 persons onboard.

1:54 pm: Four Coast Guard ships and two Dornier aircraft deployed for search operations 200 knot miles from east of Chennai.

1.50 pm: Four ships Karmukh, Gharual, Jyoti and Kuthar were diverted to join in the search and rescue at full speed. More assets being dispatched shortly.

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