Missing IAF plane: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar likely to visit Chennai on Saturday

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is likely to visit Tambaram air base near Chennai tomorrow after an AN 32 aircraft of the Indian Air Force went missing with 29 personnel on board.

Parrikar, who was briefed by IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, will get a detailed briefing on the search and rescue operations being undertaken by the Navy, Air Force and the Coast Guard, official sources said.

The aircraft went missing over the Bay of Bengal on its way from near Chennai to Port Blair, raising concern over its fate.

The massive search operation has been launched for tracking the upgraded plane which made the last radio contact at 0846 hours, 16 minutes after take off from Tambaram air base.