2016 Indian Air Force An-32 crash

2016 Indian Air Force An-32 crash
An Indian Air Force Antonov An-32 similar to the ill-fated aircraft
Accident
Date22 July 2016 (2016-07-22)
SummaryCrashed into the sea
SiteBay of Bengal, India
Aircraft
Aircraft typeAntonov An-32
Operator Indian Air Force
RegistrationK-2743
Flight originTambaram Air Force Station, Chennai, India
DestinationPort Blair, Andaman Islands, India
Occupants29
Passengers23
Crew6
Fatalities29
Survivors0

On 22 July 2016, an Antonov An-32 twin engine turboprop transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed while flying over the Bay of Bengal. The aircraft was en route from Tambaram Air Force Station in the city of Chennai on the western coastline of the Bay of Bengal to Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. There were 29 people on board. Radar contact with the aircraft was lost at 9:12 am, 280 kilometres (170 mi) east of Chennai.[1][2] No trace of the aircraft was found in the immediate aftermath. The search and rescue operation became India's largest search operation ever for a missing plane on the sea.[3] In January 2024, wreckage discovered off the coast of Chennai was confirmed as belonging to the ill-fated aircraft, indicating it crashed into the sea with no survivors.[4]

The Indian Air Force has suffered other similar incidents, mainly involving Antonov An-32 aircraft in 1986 and 2019.

  1. ^ "IAF An-32 aircraft developed 3 snags in July alone". Indian Express. Retrieved 2016-07-22.
  2. ^ "India launches massive search operation for missing military plane". BBC News. 22 July 2016. Retrieved 2016-07-22.
  3. ^ "India's Biggest Search Ever To Find A Plane That Crashed In The Sea". Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Wreckage found was invoked but never defined (see the help page).