More than 100 hours since it went missing with three officers on board , Coast Guard aircraft CG 791 could not be traced, notwithstanding sustained efforts by multiple agencies.
“The aircraft disappeared from the radar after losing altitude. With available inputs, we understand that the aircraft turned towards East just before it disappeared from the radar screens,” a senior Coast Guard official told The Hindu .
However, he dismissed speculations that the aircraft might have steered off the intended course, as it had sufficient fuel to fly for over two hours.
While the vessels of the Coast Guard, the Navy and the Coastal Security Group of Tamil Nadu Police were physically searching for the aircraft, the National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA), the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) and the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) were providing inputs for the search.
Inflatable boats called ‘Gemini’ boats and single-engine Chetak helicopters were also being used in the search.
Navy’s INS Sandhayak – a hydrographic survey vessel with its underwater equipment – commenced search on Friday, while submarine INS Sindhudvaj was expected to reach the area of search in the early hours on Saturday.
A team from Thanjavur has also embarked a Coast Guard ship for undertaking underwater photography and acoustic survey, an official release said, adding that constant interaction was being maintained with the family members of the missing officers and they were apprised of the progress of the search operation.
“Unrelenting efforts by Coast Guard, Naval ships / Aircraft and Coastal Security Group (CSG) to locate the missing Dornier and crew continue,” Defence Ministry spokesperson Sitanshu Kar tweeted.
