Coast Guard aircraft with three aboard missing

Chennai: An Indian Coast Guard Dornier aircraft with three crew members aboard has gone missing, a senior official said today. He added that search operations are on.

The aircraft took off from Chennai airport yesterday evening but did not return after surveillance sorties.

The last contact with the aircraft was made at 11 p.m. on Monday at around 95 nautical miles from Chennai, a Coast Guard spokesperson in New Delhi told IANS over phone.

The last known location of the aircraft as per radars was Karaikal in Puducherry.

The aircraft had two pilots and one observer - all experienced personnel, said the official.

He said Coast Guard and Indian Navy ships are conducting search operations.

The fishing community along the coast have also been alerted to pass on information if they see spot in the sea.

Coast Guard officials here told IANS that they are busy to comment on the issue.