An Indian Air Force aircraft has gone missing after taking off from an airbase in Assam. The aircraft last had contact with the ground forces at I pm, sources have told NDTV. 13 people were onboard the plane, including eight crew members and five passengers. The Air Force has launched a search operation to track down the plane. The Russian-built Antonov An-32 took off from Jorhat in Assam state at 12:25 pm (0655 GMT) headed for Mechuka in Arunachal Pradesh, bordering China. The Air Force has launched a search operation and spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel P Khongsai said every effort was being made to locate the missing plane. Soldiers of the Indian Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police are helping in the search besides helicopters.