The Coast Guard on Wednesday intensified its search for its missing airplane after a Dornier Aircraft CG-791, which was deployed for maritime surveillance, failed to return for a second day running.
Ministry of Defence principal spokesperson Sitanshu Kar shared the information via a series of tweets.
"#ICGDornier Search intensified for the missing a/c. Survey ship INS Sandhayak wid portable equipment rushed 2 last known position of a/c.-1"
"#ICGDornier One submarine also deployed to help locating the a/c. One P8I on task in the area. (2/last)"
"#ICGDornier 2 IN ships capable of underwater detection are being deployed to augment search Ops."
"#ICGDornier Search area is now up to 70 Nm into the sea extending from Mahabalipuram to Karikal on the Tamil Nadu coast."
"#ICGDornier The missing aircraft has not been sighted so far."
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"#ICGDornier Advisory to fishermen, merchant ships, Coastal Security Group of the TN Police has been issued 2 report sighting of missing a/c."
Kar also informed that Indian Coast Guard Vice Admiral HCS Bisht has travelled to Chennai to take stock of the situation and oversee the search operation. Vice Admiral Bisht has also met met the family members of the missing crew.
The missing aircraft, which took off from Chennai on June 8, was reportedly tracked to a distance of around 200 kilometres by the airport radar in Tiruchirapalli.
According to reports, the aircraft had three crew members: pilot Deputy Commandant Vidya Sagar, co-pilot Deputy Commandant M K Soni and navigator Deputy Commandant Subash Suresh.