File picture of a Dornier aircraft operated by the Coast Guard.
A Naval submarine fitted with sophisticated sonar equipment is expected to join today a fleet of 15 ships engaged in search operations to trace a Dornier aircraft which went missing on Monday with three people on board.
INS Sindhudhwaj is expected to arrive later today to aid in search operations off the Karaikal coast in Puducherry, where the Coast Guard aircraft, which was on a routine surveillance mission, is suspected to have disappeared. Two other highly-specialised ships with Sound Navigation and Ranging (SONAR) technology, including Navy's INS Sandhayak, have also been deployed.
"These vessels can look for any wreckage under water," said SP Sharma, Inspector General, Coast Guard.
On Thursday, search operations suffered a setback after test reports found no trace of aviation fuel in water samples of a suspected oil spill in the sea. The Indian Space Research Organisation or ISRO, too, was unable to provide any leads after deploying satellite technology to locate the missing plane, according to Coast Guard authorities. Paramotors of the Coastal Security Group which flew over the mangrove forests along the Chidambaram coast, too, couldn't find any clue.
The Coast Guard has also roped in experienced divers, scientists and microbiologists as part of efforts to trace the missing aircraft. The department has also sought the assistance of the National Institute of Ocean Technology and the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services.
The Dornier that took off from Chennai on Monday evening was last tracked 16 kilometres east off Chidambaram coast by radar in Trichy. The aircraft was being flown by Deputy Commandant Vidyasagar and had on board Deputy Commandant MK Soni, the co-pilot, and Navigator Deputy Commandant Subash Suresh.
"These are emotionally anxious moments for their families. They are part of our family. We have met them and are extending all possible support," Mr Sharma said.