New Delhi: Even after four days, there is no sign of missing Indian Air Force AN-32 aircraft after taking off from Tambaram air base in Tamil Nadu.
The search for the aircraft, which went missing over Bay of Bengal with 29 defence personnel on board, was intensified after satellite imagery pointed to possible floating objects but nothing has been found yet.
"Indigenous imagery satellite did give us some pointers to possible floating objects. The area indicated are being searched intensively by ships and aircraft. Nothing sighted as yet," defence sources said.
Efforts are on, sources said, adding another indigenous satellite would be used for further search.
Meanwhile, families of the 29 personnel refuse to lose hope.
"We are praying all of them return home safely. He was so brave that I am sure he must have till the last minute fought hard to save passengers and the plane. I hope they all are safe," the pilot's father said.
A total of 12 Naval ships and four Indian Coast Guard vessels, along with 17 aircraft from the Indian Air Force, Indian Navy and ICG have been mobilised for the operation.
"The weather improved marginally, thereby aiding deployment of additional assets and aiding intensification of the search in a larger area.
"The sea state, however, continues to be rough, making the conditions challenging," a statement by the MoD said.
An AN 32 aircraft of the IAF, with 29 personnel on board, including four officers, went missing on Friday over Bay of Bengal on its way from near Chennai to Port Blair.
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