2019 Indian Air Force An-32 crash explained

2019 Indian Air Force An-32 crash
Image Upright:1.2
Occurrence Type:Accident
Summary:Crashed in hilly terrain
Site:Near Pari hills close to Gatte village, Arunachal Pradesh, India
Aircraft Type:Antonov An-32
Tail Number:K2752
Origin:Jorhat Airport Air Force Station, Assam, India
Destination:Mechuka Advanced Landing Ground, Arunachal Pradesh, India
Occupants:13
Fatalities:13
Survivors:0

On 3 June 2019, an Antonov An-32 twin engine turboprop transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force en route from Jorhat Airport in Assam to Mechuka in Arunachal Pradesh lost contact with ground control about 33 minutes after takeoff. There were 13 people on board. After a week-long search operation, the wreckage with no survivors was found near Pari hills close to Gatte village in Arunachal Pradesh at the elevation of 12000feet.

The Indian Air Force has suffered other similar incidents, mainly involving Antonov An-32 aircraft in 1986 and 2016.

Passengers

There were 13 Indian Air Force personnel, eight crew members and five passengers on board the aircraft.[1] [2] [3] There were no survivors.[4]

Search operation

The Antonov An-32 twin engine turboprop transport aircraft was en route from Jorhat Airport in Assam to Mechuka Advanced Landing Ground in Arunachal Pradesh on 3 June 2019. The aircraft took off from Johrat at 12:27 pm IST and lost contact with ground control at 1 pm IST, about 33 minutes after takeoff.

After eight days of search operation that had been hindered by poor weather, on 11 June 2019, the wreckage of the aircraft was found near Pari hills close to Gatte village, 16km (10miles) north of Lipo in Arunachal Pradesh, at 12000feet elevation.[5] The Indian Air Force had previously offered a cash reward of for anyone who could share information on the aircraft.[6] A fleet of Sukhoi-30, C-130J and An-32 aircraft and Mi-17 and ALH helicopters as well as the Indian Army, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and the state police forces were deployed for the search operation. The Indian Navy's P-8i aircraft was also deployed. ISRO's Cartosat and RISAT satellites were also used.[7]

On 12 June 2019, a team of 15 rescuers were airdropped near the crash site, but were unable to reach the location due to rough terrain and bad weather.[8] The next day the rescue team reached the site and reported that there were no survivors, and that they had recovered the aircraft's flight recorders.[9]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Indian military plane vanishes mid-flight . Berlinger . Joshua . 6 June 2019 . 11 June 2019 . CNN.
  2. Web site: Indian air force finds wreckage of missing plane . Reuters . 11 June 2019 . 11 June 2019.
  3. News: Goodbye bravehearts: Nation bids farewell to 13 IAF personnel killed in An-32 crash. 2019-06-13. India Today. 2019-06-14. Ist.
  4. News: AN-32 crash: no survivors, all 13 people on board dead, IAF says. 2019-06-13. The Times of India. 2019-06-14. Ist.
  5. Web site: Missing An-32: Wreckage of aircraft found in Arunachal after 8 days, confirms Air Force. 11 June 2019. India Today. 11 June 2019.
  6. Web site: Air Force announces Rs 5 lakh reward for information on missing AN-32 aircraft. 9 June 2019. India Today. 11 June 2019.
  7. Web site: Rescue Operation Begins at Crash Site of IAF's AN-32, Mi17s, Advanced Helicopters Being Used. News18. 2019-06-14.
  8. Web site: An-32 aircraft wreckage: Rescue teams face inclement weather, to camp overnight in Arunachal jungles near crash site . Bhalla . Abhishek . India Today . 13 June 2019 . 12 June 2019.
  9. Web site: IAF team recovers An-32 black box from crash site . India Today . 13 June 2019 . 13 June 2019.