Search for missing Dornier aircraft: Navy ship picks up signals

The Ministry of Defence in its Facebook page posted: "Efforts to search and locate the missing ICG Aircraft by the ICG and IN ships along with aircraft in area of probability continue for the past 110 hrs. A multi coloured sheen of oil in concentric circles was sighted which indicated oozing of oil. The sample of oil has been sent to the laboratory for analysis. "

"INS Sandhyak undertaking sub-surface search, detected intermittent transmission of 37.5 Khz, likely to be from the Sonar Locator Beacon (SLB) of the missing aircraft. The transmission is around the position where the Air Traffic Control (ATC) radar had lost contact of the aircraft. Submarine INS Sindhudhvaj is likely to arrive in the area late in the evening for further augmentation of sub-surface search," read the post.

The Ministry said National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) has diverted its research vessel 'Sagar Nidhi' and is likely to arrive in the area for augmenting underwater search by June 14.

"M/s Reliance India Limited has been approached to extend services of the Multi Support Vessel (MSV) with Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicle (ROV) for underwater operations," read the post.

The Dornier aircraft of the Indian Coast Guard went missing on Monday night with three crew members while on a surveillance sortie over the seas. Reports said the aircraft took off at around 5-30 pm but then lost contact. It was suppose to return to the base by 10 pm.

Image: Indian Ministry of Defence Facebook page