New Delhi: AN-32 aircraft wreckage has been located by a Mi17.

The Mi17 is now over the location and is reportedly in forest area of Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh.

The wreckage of the missing AN-32 was spotted today 16 Kms North of Lipo, North East of Tato at an approximate elevation of 12000 ft by the Indian Air Force's Mi-17 Helicopter undertaking search in the expanded search zone

The Indian Air Force’s AN-32 aircraft which got airborne from Assam’s Jorhat at 12:25 PM on June 3 for Menchuka Advance Landing Ground and had gone missing. Thirtheen people were on the board the aircraft.

 The Indian Air Force, Army and the Navy had all formed a special operation to search for the aircraft.

Indian forces have pressed all their assets and the latest technology to track the transporter plane. Fighter aircraft, C130, helicopters carrying specialised sensors and satellites were deployed. Even, P8i, aircraft of the Indian Navy was pressed into action. 

Former chief of Army staff, Gen VK Singh, tweeted, “As a soldier, I empathize with the families of these 13 brave men. My thoughts & prayers are with all of you Our government & defence forces are working tirelessly in harsh weather conditions, in particularly challenging geography to find the AN 32 aircraft.”

The Indian Air Force has issued a statement regarding the search – An An-32 of the Indian Air Force went missing on 03 Jun 2019 after getting airborne from Air Force Station, Jorhat Assam. The wreckage of the aircraft was spotted today 16 Kms North of Lipo, North East of Tato at an approximate elevation of 12000 ft by the IAF Mi-17 Helicopter undertaking search in the expanded search zone.

Efforts are now continuing to establish the status of occupants and establish survivors. Further details will be communicated as the recovery actions progress.