Lok Sabha Question No. 66 (STARRED), answered on 2019-06-26
Subject: Missing of AN-32 Aircraft
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Asaduddin Owaisi, Behanan Benny

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK  SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO.66

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 26 TH  JUNE, 2019

## MISSING OF AN-32 AIRCRAFT

## *66. SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI: SHRI BENNY BEHANAN:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE j{kk ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that AN-32 aircraft went missing recently in Arunachal sector and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the number of persons including crew members on board in the aircraft;
- (b) whether the said aircraft has been traced and if so, the details thereof along with the details of special squads deployed/assigned for rescue and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  it  is  a  fact  that  AN-32  series  of  aircrafts  are  meeting  with  accidents frequently and if so, the details thereof along with the accidents occurred during the last four years;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to upgrade or phase out these aircrafts in a timebound manner;
- (e) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (f) the number of aircrafts/choppers of Indian Air Force collapsed during the last four years?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF DEFENCE                                    (SHRI RAJNATH SINGH)

j{kk ea=h

¼Jh राजनाथ स िंह )

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(a) to (f):

A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF LOK SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  66  FOR  ANSWER  ON  26.06.2019  REGARDING 'MISSING OF AN-32 AIRCRAFT'.

- (a) AN-32 aircraft of IAF was reported missing in Arunachal Pradesh on 03.06.2019 when it was proceeding on a sortie to an Advanced Landing Ground at Mechuka. A total of 13 people included 06 crew members and 07 passengers were on board.
- (b) The wreckage of the crashed aircraft was located by IAF helicopters on 11.6.2019 at  a  location  of  16  km  north  of  Lipo  in  Arunachal  Pradesh.  Aircraft  and  helicopters  of IAF, Indian Army and Indian Navy were deployed for the search and rescue operations. In  addition,  several  teams  comprising  IAF  and  Army  personnel  as  well  as  civilian mountaineers were tasked to locate the missing aircraft on ground and for rescue of the crew and passengers.
- (c) AN-32 aircraft is the workhorse of the IAF transport fleet and has not met with frequent accidents. In the last four years, in addition to the crash on 03.06.2019, only one AN-32 was lost on 22.7.2016 while flying over the Bay of Bengal.
- (d) & (e): A part of the AN-32 fleet has been upgraded with better avionics and airframe reinforcement. The remaining aircraft are planned to be upgraded in a phased manner. There is no plan to phase out AN-32 aircraft presently as they have useful residual life.
- (f) The number of aircraft accidents in the last four years  is given below:

| Year                    | Fighter   | Helicopter   | Transporter   | Trainer   |
|-------------------------|-----------|--------------|---------------|-----------|
| 2015-16                 | 04        | 01           | 01            | 01        |
| 2016-17                 | 06        | 02           | -             | 01        |
| 2017-18                 | 02        | -            | -             | 03        |
| 2018-19                 | 07        | 02           | -             | 02        |
| 2019-20 (till 20.6.2019 | -         | -            | 01            | -         |

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