The wreckage of the Indian Air Force flight, an AN-32 military transport aircraft has been found in the Payum Circle of the Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh. 13 members were on board the flight which went missing on June 3rd. The wreckage was spotted by a Mi-17 helicopter. Sukhoi-30 combat and C-130 Special Ops aircrafts had been sent on a search mission. Difficult terrain and bad weather made the process difficult.

The aircraft had lost contact 35 minutes after taking off from Jorhat in Assam at 12:25 pm. The plane was travelling to Mechuka Advanced Landing Ground, a difficult strip to take-off and land. The area where the aircraft had been flying was found to be surrounded by mountains with thick forests. Wing Commander Charles, Squadron Leader Vinod, Flight Lieutenant M Garg, Flight Lieutenant Mohanty, Flight Lieutenant Tanwar, Flight Lieutenant Thapa, Warrant Officer KK Mishra, Sergent Anoop, Corporal Sharin, LAC Pankaj, LAC SK Singh, NE(E) Rajesh Kumar, and NC(E) Putali were aboard the flight.

IAF tweeted about finding the plane: “The wreckage of the missing #An32 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..” They also posted that: “Efforts are now continuing to establish the status of occupants & establish survivors. Further details will be communicated as the recovery actions progress.”

The wreckage of the missing #An32 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..

— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) June 11, 2019

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

— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) June 11, 2019