Shillong/New Delhi, June 8: After 125 hours of leadless search for missing Indian Air Force's AN 32 aircraft in North-Eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, IAF Air Marshal RD Mathur, AOC-in-C, Eastern Air Command, on Saturday announced a cash award of Rs 5 lakhs for person/s or group who provide credible information regarding the transport aircraft. The senior official also shared the contact details for the ease of finder, in case they find the wreckage of the plane.

Announcing the cash prize, Defence PRO Wing Commander Ratnakar Singh said, as quoted by news agency ANI, "Air Marshal RD Mathur, AOC-in-C, Eastern Air Command, has announced a cash award of Rs 5 lakhs for the person(s) or group who provide credible information leading to finding of the missing AN-32 transport aircraft." IAF's AN-32 Aircraft Search Operation Update: Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa Reaches Jorhat to Monitor Situation

Adding on, he said, "Finder may contact IAF on - 0378-3222164, 9436499477/9402077267/9402132477. IAF is using all its assets and taking help of Army, Arunachal Pradesh civil authorities and other national agencies to locate the missing AN-32 transport aircraft."

Earlier on Saturday, Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa visited Air Force Station Jorhat in Assam to review the ongoing search and rescue operations. He also met the kin of IAF personnel, who were on board AN 32 aircraft and assured them that IAF is doing everything it can.

The IAF, through its Twitter handle, had informed that it has increased the deployment of its aircraft and has expanded the search area significantly. Adding on it wrote that airborne sensors and satellites are covering more areas and the imaging is being followed-up by close analysis of data for its synergistic amalgamation in search ops. IAF's AN-32 Aircraft Search Operation to Continue Throughout Night; Cheetah Helicopters, India Army Personnel Pressed Into Service

Along with Indian Army personnel, ITBP, state police and members of the local population are searching for the wreckage of the missing transport aircraft of IAF. Though aerial search could not be undertaken due to poor weather conditions prevailing throughout the day, IAF added.

Apart from the territorial army, IAF has also taken help of advanced helicopters like C-130 Super Hercules, SU-30s, C-130J, Mi17 helicopters, Advanced Light Helicopters (ALHs) and P8i were deployed, the wreckage couldn't be traced. Even the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) satellites were pressed into service to locate the plane but without any success. raft. Missing IAF AN-32 Aircraft- Know All About This Ageing Transport Plane

As per the details, the rescue beacon (device designed to attract attention to a specific location), installed on board the missing plane is old and has not been in production for 14 years. Apart from this, the rescuers are not able to pick up signals from the emergency locator beacon fitted in the cargo compartment of the aircraft.

On June 3, AN-32, with 13 onboard, stopped communicating with ground controllers at 1 pm. The aircraft had 13 persons on board, including six officers and seven others. The Russian-origin An-32 transporter took off from Assam's Jorhat at 12.27 pm for the Mechuka Advanced Landing Ground in Arunachal Pradesh's Shi-Yomi district bordering China.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 08, 2019 10:57 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).