No survivors from AN-32 crash, confirms IAF

Bhubaneswar: There are no survivors from the crash of AN-32 aircraft, which was carrying 13 air-warriors including Flight Lieutenant Sunit Mohanty of Odisha and went missing on June 3, confirmed Indian Air Force (IAF) today.

Mohanty hailed from Baliapalli village under Kabisuryanagar block of Ganjam district.

Eight members of a rescue team had reached the crash site this morning. “IAF is sad to inform that there are no survivors from the crash,” the IAF tweeted.

On Tuesday, the IAF spotted the wreckage of the missing transporter 16 km north of Lipo, northeast of Tato, at about 12,000 feet above sea level, with the help of an Mi-17 helicopter after eight days of a massive search operation.

The aircraft had taken off from Assam’s Jorhat at 12.27 p.m. on June 3 for Mechuka Advanced Landing Ground in Arunachal Pradesh’s West Siang district bordering China, but it lost contact with ground authorities at around 1 p.m.

IAF has paid tribute to the officials who lost their life in the crash.

IAF Pays tribute to the brave Air-warriors who lost their life during the #An32 crash on 03 Jun 2019 and stands by with the families of the victims. May their soul rest in peace.

— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) June 13, 2019