Indian Navy’s Dornier aircraft crashed in the sea about 20 nautical miles South West of Goa on March 24.
The aircraft, which was conducting routine night training, lost contact with the Naval Air Station at Goa at 10:08 PM, and it is presumed that it ditched soon afterwards.
Of the three officers aboard the aircrft one survived, Commander Nikhil Kuldip Joshi. He was picked up by a passing fishing boat and transferred to a naval Fast Interceptor Craft. He is reported to be in a stable condition.
India immediately deployed eight naval vessels and four aircraft to conduct a search for the remaining two officers. According to the Indian Navy, a total of twelve ships, including two Coast Guard vessels, and four aircraft were engaged in search and rescue operations yesterday.
The cause of the accident is still unknown.
Naval Today Staff, Image: Indian Navy