VASCO/CANACONA: A Dornier aircraft of the Indian Navy which was on a routine training sortie crashed into the sea about 20 nautical miles South West of Goa on Tuesday night with three aircrews on board.
One officer has been rescued while a search was on to locate the other two missing personnel – a captain and an observer.
In a press note, the Navy stated that the Naval Air Station at Goa lost radar and communication with the aircraft at 10.02 pm on Tuesday and the aircraft was feared to have ditched soon thereafter.
The aircrew on board the ill-fated aircraft comprised two pilots and one observer. One pilot Commander Nikhil Joshi was rescued from the water by a fishing boat. Commander Joshi sustained major leg injuries and is currently in the ICU, states the press note.
The press note further stated that two other crew members, co-pilot Sub Lt Nagori and observer Lt Kiran Shekhawat are still missing.
“Over six naval ships and four aircrafts were immediately deployed for search, which is still continuing to locate the two officers. The Navy has ordered a Board of Inquiry into the crash that occurred off the Goa coast,” added the press note.
According to sources, the rescued officer, Commander Nikhil Joshi, has been seriously injured in the crash, but is stable.
Sources informed that the search and rescue operation is likely to continue for another 72 hours.
Sources in the Navy informed that the aircraft after hitting the water broke as some parts of the aircraft were seen floating in the sea 20 nautical miles South West off Talpona coast.
Sources further informed that naval ships and aircrafts are pressed into service in search of the two missing officers and the exact cause of the crash is not known.
Sources informed that the Indian Navy operates 36 Dornier aircraft for search and rescue, maritime surveillance and commuter duties. “This is the first crash of a Dornier since it was inducted in the Navy in the early 90s. This is also the first crash that involves a woman officer,” informed the source.
Meanwhile, authorities in Canacona kept a close watch on taluka’s coastline throughout the day on Wednesday.
The site of the crash is reported as 25 nautical miles off South West of Goa coast, which many contrived as off Canacona coast and accordingly authorities including police and also coastal police were on alert and reportedly alerted fishermen venturing into the sea.
Taluka administration, reportedly after activating local intelligence, kept a close watch on the shoreline for related sighting, but according to Deputy Collector Sudhin Natu, who was personally visiting a few coastal areas in the taluka, informed that no related developments could be observed anywhere along the taluka coastline.
“Following widespread reports, we kept a close watch on the entire coastline throughout the day. However, late Wednesday evening I got information from top sources that the reported crash took place in Karwar coast and not in Goan waters,” Natu informed when contacted.
