Chennai: Two days have passed since the Indian Air Force (IAF) flight AN32 with 29 persons on board, disappeared mid-flight from Tambaram to Port Blair, but no clues have surfaced about the craft or its human cargo. The defence authorities have meanwhile stepped up the search operations, with ISRO satellites being used to locate the missing plane.

A senior officer of the Tambaram Air Force base has expressed confidence that the satellite images “will be helpful to locate the plane or its parts over the Bay of Bengal.” But the official is still hopeful that the plane did not meet with an accident because the craft was built to withstand bad weather conditions.

20 Indian Navy and Coast Guard ships, including a submarine, are currently looking for the airplane, all over the coastal areas of Cuddalore, Mahabalipuram, and Karaikal. Since the plane had lost contact within 15 minutes of take-off, they are sure that it wouldn’t have gone too far from the coast. The fact that no debris has been located yet is a sign of hope, and mystery.

Despite forecasts of rough seas, the search parties continued with their efforts.

The authorities have not yet released the list of the 29 persons on the aircraft, but a complaint was filed with the Tamil Nadu police on the missing aircraft.