The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Thursday “officially confirmed” the death of all the 13 on board the AN-32 aircraft which crashed in Shi-yomi district of Arunachal Pradesh.
In a Twitter message, the IAF on Thursday afternoon confirmed that there were no survivors from the AN-32 aircraft, which crashed on June 3, while flying from Jorhat in Assam to Mechuka in Arunachal Pradesh.
Following air-warriors lost their life in the tragic #An32 crash – W/C GM Charles, S/L H Vinod, F/L R Thapa, F/L A Tanwar, F/L S Mohanty, F/L MK Garg, WO KK Mishra, Sgt Anoop Kumar, Cpl Sherin, LAC SK Singh, LAC Pankaj, NC(E) Putali & NC(E) Rajesh Kumar.
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) 13 June 2019
“Eight members of the rescue team have reached the crash site today morning. IAF is sad to inform that there are no survivors from the crash of AN-32,” the Twitter message said.
The eight-member team of rescuers was airdropped on Wednesday close to the crash site of the IAF’s AN-32 aircraft in Shi-yomi district of Arunachal Pradesh to look for possible survivors.
#Update on #An32 crash: Eight members of the rescue team have reached the crash site today morning. IAF is sad to inform that there are no survivors from the crash of An32.
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) 13 June 2019
The team of rescuers could not reach the crash site on Wednesday because of the difficult terrain and inclement weather.
The wreckage of the AN-32 aircraft was spotted on Tuesday afternoon in a heavily forested mountainous terrain by an IAF MI-17 helicopter, eight days after it went missing with 13 people on board on June 3.
IAF Pays tribute to the brave Air-warriors who lost their life during the #An32 crash on 03 Jun 2019 and stands by with the families of the victims. May their soul rest in peace.
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) 13 June 2019
The Indian Air Force said it stands by with families of the victims.
The IAF personnel on board the AN 32 aircraft were:
Wing Commander GM Charles,
Squadron Leader H Vinod,
Flight Lieutenant Mohit Garg,
Flight Lieutenant Sumit Mohanty,
Flight Lieutenant Ashish Tanwar
Flight Lieutenant Rajesh Thapa.
Warrant Officer KK Mishra,
Sergeant Anoop,
Corporal Sharin,
Airmen Pankaj Sangwan
Airmen SK Singh
Non-combatant Rajesh Kumar
Non-combatant Putali.