IAF launches search operation after loss of contact with AN-32 aircraft which took off from Jorhat

Indian Air force has lost contact with an AN-32 Aircraft on Monday, which was overdue to arrive at the Menchuka Advanced Landing Ground at Arunachal Pradesh, as per sources.
Airforce sources have confirmed that the aircraft, which is a  transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force, made last contact with ground sources at 1 PM after taking off from the Jorhat airbase in Assam at 12:25 PM. There has reportedly been no contact since.

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Sources have also reported that 13 members were on board the aircraft - of which 8 were crew members including two pilots and five passengers.

Reports have emerged that a massive hunt for the missing aircraft has been commenced by the Indian Air force. A Sukhoi-30 combat aircraft and a C-130 Special Ops aircraft has already been dispatched on a search mission for locating the IAF aircraft AN-32.

The Indian airforce which has a fleet of around 100 AN-32s, inducted in the early 1980s has put all its available resources in locating the N-32 aircraft which was headed to the Mechuka Advanced Landing Ground located near the Indo-China border in Arunachal Pradesh.

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Further details are awaited.

Union Defence minister has tweeted assuring that he is in contact with the IAF and is briefed about the steps taken for its recovery

All 13 persons on board the aircraft were air warriors, no civilians, as per sources. The aircraft AN-32 lost contact with Control room in between Along & Memchuka-INFO ANIRUDH

Press Information Bureau has issued an official statement about the current whereabouts of the AN-32 aircraft:

An AN-32 got airborne today from Jorhat at 1227 hrs for Mechuka Advanced Landing Ground. The aircraft last contacted ground agencies at 1300 hrs (approx). Thereafter, there was no contact with the aircraft. Since the aircraft did not reach the destination, overdue actions were initiated by the Indian Air Force. A total of eight aircrews and five passengers were onboard the aircraft.

C-130, AN-32 aircraft, two Mi-17 of IAF and Indian Army ALH helicopters were launched to locate the missing aircraft. Some ground reports were received on the possible location of a crash site. Helicopters were routed to the location, however, no wreckage has been sighted so far. IAF is coordinating with the Indian Army as well as various government and civil agencies to locate the missing aircraft. The search operations from air and by ground parties of Indian Army are planned to continue through the night.

IAF notified that for the Aircraft that was last contacted ground sources at 1 PM, search operation will continue from air and by ground parties of the Indian Army through the night. 

They also added that some reports of possible location of crash site were received, however, no wreckage has been sighted so far