Updated: Indian cargo plane crash site found.
Antonov An-32 Cline similar to accident aircraft. Photo by Toprohan via Wikipedia.
A missing Indian Air Force (IAF) cargo aircraft was found yesterday (June 10, 2009) in a northeastern region of the country after going missing while on a routine flight Tuesday (June 9, 2009), soon after it took off from a Mechuka advanced landing ground at 2 PM. The Antonov An-32 Cline crashed near the village of Tato in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, near the India-China border, in a dense forest. Thirteen people were on board and all perished.
The airplane was carrying seven IAF and six Indian Army (IA) personnel on a regular mission to Jorhat-Rowriah Airport (JRH; ICAO: VEJT) in Jorhat (state of Assam). Weather at the time of the crash was reported to have been good (although some reports say the weather had deteriorated) and no communications were heard from the plane. It is currently unknown what factors may have led to the crash. Two villagers say they saw the aircraft explode before crashing, however this will take some time to confirm.
The names of the victims were reported by the Indian armed forces as follows: Wing commander Gitesh Jit Singh Bhutalia (IAF), Squadron leader P. Siddharth (IAF), Flight Lieutenant Varum Kumar (IAF), Wing Commander PK Shaji (IAF), Squadron leader Manas Mishra (IAF), Master Warrant Officer Ramesh (IAF), Aircraft Attendant Sanjay Kumar (IAF), GunnersVijay Singh (IA), Sepy AK Tirki (IA), K Kumar (IA), S Kumar (IA), R Wangchuck (Radio officer -IA), and Naik BS Nanwhegh (IA).
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