IAF An-32 Aircraft Missing Since 2016 Located in Deep-Sea Discovery

New Delhi: In a significant development, the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), operating under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, has made a groundbreaking discovery related to the Indian Air Force (IAF) An-32 aircraft that went missing over the Bay of Bengal on July 22, 2016, during an operational mission. The aircraft, bearing registration K-2743, disappeared with 29 personnel on board, leading to an extensive and unsuccessful Search and Rescue mission by aircraft and ships.

Recently, the NIOT deployed an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) equipped with deep-sea exploration capabilities at the last known location of the missing An-32. Conducted at a depth of 3400 meters, the search utilized various payloads, including a multi-beam SONAR (Sound Navigation and Ranging), synthetic aperture SONAR, and high-resolution photography.

The analysis of the search images revealed the presence of debris from a crashed aircraft on the seabed, approximately 140 nautical miles (approximately 310 km) from the Chennai coast. The scrutinized images were found to be consistent with the characteristics of an An-32 aircraft, suggesting a probable connection to the missing IAF aircraft (K-2743).

The discovery of the wreckage at the presumed crash site, especially with no other documented reports of missing aircraft in the vicinity, strongly indicates that the located debris is likely associated with the IAF An-32 that went missing in 2016.

This breakthrough finding offers closure and potential answers to the families and the IAF community, who have awaited information about the missing aircraft for years. The NIOT’s use of advanced underwater technology showcases the increasing role of marine exploration tools in solving mysteries and providing clarity on unresolved incidents.