CHENNAI: The Air Force has taken a series of measures to prevent recurrence of mishaps involving AN-32 aircraft, one of which had gone missing last year with 29 people onboard, Air Chief B S Dhanoa said today.
Despite a co-ordinated search involving the Navy and the Coast Guard, the Russian-made aircraft could not be found as it did not have underwater locator, he told reporters at the IAF Station in suburban Tambaram here.
He also blamed “limited visibility” under the waters of the “vast ocean” of Bay of Bengal, where the AN-32 went missing with 29 persons onboard on July 22, 2016 while flying from Chennai to Port Blair.
All the 29 persons onboard have been “presumed dead.”
However, measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents, especially in this sector were being taken, Dhanoa said while describing the AN-32 as a “workhorse”.
“We have introduced additional seats in the charter (flights) to Car Nicobar so that we are carrying mainly load (only) in AN-32 and the passengers are carried by the charter. Courier flights are going to be introduced for personnel,” he said. (AGENCIES)
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