Chennai: An Indian Air Force (IAF) AN-32 transport plane, with 29 persons on board, including six crew members, went missing today. The aircraft took off from the airbase in Tambaram, Chennai, and was on its way to Port Blair.

According to a senior officer of Indian Air Force, Tambaram, the transport plane took off at about 8.30 am from Tambaram and was supposed to reach Port Blair at 11.30 am. But, within 15 minutes of its take-off, the plane lost contact with the air traffic control. Two navy ships, a navy submarine, Coast Guard aircrafts, and helicopters were deployed to search for the plane.

Officials suspect that technical snag could be responsible for the disappearance. The AN-32 is a Russian-made aircraft suitable for military and civil flights. The craft is designed to take off and land in rough terrains.

A year ago, a Coast Guard Dronier aircraft, on a routine surveillance patrol, with three crew members on board, went missing. A month later, the aircraft’s black box and skeletal remains of the crew were found at the bottom of the sea.