TWITTER An Indian Air Force plane

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The AN-32 plane took off from Chennai in India heading for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands when it lost radio contact. Now a major sea search and rescue operation has been launched involving the air force, navy and coastguard.

GETTY The plane was heading to the Andaman and Nicobar island

The plane took off at 8.45am and was expected to land at Port Blair at 11.30am on Friday morning. However, the plane lost radio contact during bad weather sparking the alert.

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Four navy ships have been scrambled to the area. An Indian military spokesman said there were six crew members on board the plane transporting the group to the island near the Malacca Straits where India has a base. Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 disappeared in March 2014 with 12 crew and 227 passengers on board. The news of the missing Indian Air Force plane comes as those hunting for MH370 said their search would be suspended if the aircraft is not found in an area now being scoured by experts. The Boeing 777 vanished while on a flight from the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, to Beijing.

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