Mumbai: After 11 days of hectic search and rescue operations, the Indian Navy has recovered the wreckage of the ill-fated MiG-29K aircraft along with a body. The body was recovered by the rescue teams of the navy near the site of the crash.
The body is believed to be that of pilot Commander Nishant Singh, who went missing after his MiG-29K aircraft crashed into the Arabian sea.
"Mortal remains of a human body have been recovered in the vicinity of the wreckage site. The samples are being sent for DNA testing for confirmation of identity," said a defence spokesperson here on Monday evening.
The trainer aircraft along with Commander Nishant Singh and a co-pilot, which took off from the INS Vikramaditya, vanished off Goa on Nov. 26. While the co-pilot was saved, Commander Singh has been missing since.
An official said on condition of anonymity that there are reasons to believe that the body is of Commander Nishant Singh. However, it can be fully ascertained following the result of the DNA testing, he added.
The navy said, "Aerial search by maritime reconnaissance aircraft and helicopter sorties amounting to 270 hours have been undertaken so far. Underwater search around the crash site which include extensive dives by saturation divers and continuous overnight search using HD camera have been undertaken in the last 10 days."
"All sections of the aircraft wreckage including ejection seats have been accounted for using side scan sonar and HD cameras. The flight data recorder/cockpit voice recorder alongwith other important material have been recovered so far for analysis/investigation," it said.
The Indian Navy deployed nine warships, 14 aircraft and a number of fast interceptor craft as part of the search and rescue mission to locate Commander Sing
An underwater search around the crash site including extensive dives by saturation divers and continuous night search using HD cameras were undertaken over the past 10 days, said the official.
(With IANS Inputs)