Indian aircraft join search operations for missing plane
Kuala Lumpur: India deployed two long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft in the Indian Ocean to help trace the Malaysian plane that mysteriously went missing over two weeks ago, carrying 239 people on board.
The two surveillance aircraft – P8-I Poseidon of the Indian Navy and C-130J Super Hercules of the Indian Air Force – took off from Subang Airport, Malaysia for search and rescue operations in the Indian Ocean along the southern corridor.
Both Indian aircraft took off this morning for the search areas allotted by the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC) after extensive briefings.
Even though they are likely to encounter cyclonic conditions en route, both aircraft Captains decided to skirt bad weather areas to reach the search sectors allotted by the ARCC.
With the arrival of these two long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft in Malaysia, India has now joined the next phase of ‘International Search and Rescue’ operations under coordination of ARCC.
The Indian crews were warmly received by the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Base Subang, and the Base Commander personally received and briefed the Indian crews at the RMAF Base Subang.
The Indian crews, who have a long association of operating and training with RMAF, were appreciative of the high-level of professional support rendered by the RMAF.
India has assured that they will undertake any mission assigned by the ARCC and render any assistance that is technically feasible, the release said.
The Beijing-bound plane was carrying 239 people, including five Indians and one Indian-Canadian.
Search areas for the missing plane encompass a northern corridor stretching approximately from the border of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to northern Thailand, as well as a southern one from Indonesia to the southern Indian Ocean.
