Rescuers have failed to pick up any emergency transmitter signals from an Indian Air Force plane that went missing last week with 29 people on board, an official said yesterday, in the latest setback to a search operation in the Bay of Bengal.
Sixteen ships, a submarine and six aircraft have been deployed to search for the Russian-made AN-32 that disappeared on a routine re-supply flight to remote islands in the Bay of Bengal on Friday.
Rajan Bargotra, a senior Coast Guard official, said the absence of signals from an emergency locator transmitter (ELT ) made the operation very difficult.
“It is important to know why ELT has not worked as it could have helped narrow down the location of the plane,” Bargotra told reporters in Chennai.
The ELT device is meant to start transmitting the plane’s location the moment it touches water or in the event of a crash.
“It is a serious concern and the matter will be taken up with the aircraft manufacturers,” Bargotra said.
An experienced pilot in Indian defence forces said the maintenance of this equipment was an issue. Bargotra said the search will continue even it is is going to be a prolonged one.
“We have requested the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) for their vessel for the search operations,” he added.
Indian Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba meanwhile said a total 250 hours of sorties have been flown in search of the plane, and all leads found are being followed.
“The co-ordinated efforts between Indian Navy, IAF and Coast Guard is continuing. We have also kept close liaison with families of all on board.
We are keeping them in the loop and informing them how the search is progressing.” 
IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha said it was “unfortunate” that the aircraft has not been traced so far, describing it as a “very difficult moment.”
Raha it was a “painful reminder” of the inherent risks personnel face in the execution of their daily missions.
“IAF authorities are in constant touch with the family members of the missing personnel and they are being regularly updated about the efforts being made to trace the missing aircraft and personnel,” he said.
The IAF remains committed to providing the best possible equipment and training to our personnel so that they can execute their assigned missions professionally, he said.



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