In a race against time, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has launched an extensive search operation in the sprawling Chandil dam to locate a two-seater training aircraft that went missing shortly after takeoff from the Sonari aerodrome. The aircraft, a Cessna 152 belonging to Alchemist Aviation, lost contact with air traffic control just 15 minutes into its flight on Tuesday forenoon, sparking a widespread search effort.
The ill-fated flight was carrying trainee pilot Jeet Shatru and instructor Subrato Deep, both of whom remain untraceable since the aircraft’s disappearance. Initial search operations, led by the police, forest department officials, and Alchemist Aviation personnel, combed through potential crash sites across the region late into the night on Tuesday but yielded no conclusive evidence of the aircraft’s whereabouts.
The search efforts intensified on Wednesday morning as NDRF teams converged on Chandil dam, a vast and treacherous water body spanning several kilometers, where the last known signal from the aircraft was reportedly detected. Despite earlier inputs suggesting multiple potential crash sites, including the dense Dalma hills, these leads were systematically ruled out, with the focus ultimately narrowing on the dam area.
Ravi Pathak, director of Alchemist Aviation, detailed the arduous search process. "Upon receiving information about the missing aircraft, we immediately initiated a search operation. Initial reports hinted that the aircraft might have plunged into the Chandil dam, but our ground checks turned up nothing. As time went on, we received conflicting reports from five different locations, but all turned out to be false leads. Given that the last signal came from the Chandil dam vicinity, we have now centered our efforts there," explained Pathak.
The situation became more complex when unverified reports surfaced about a pair of shoes floating on the dam’s surface, leading to speculation about the aircraft’s fate. However, Pathak dismissed these claims, stating that no such evidence had been found.
The search in the Chandil dam is proving to be a formidable challenge for the NDRF team. With the dam plunging to depths of up to 180 feet, the possibility of the aircraft having sunk into the murky waters adds a layer of difficulty to the operation. Despite the odds, NDRF divers and sonar equipment are being deployed in the hope of locating the missing aircraft and its occupants.
As the search enters its critical phase, anxiety grows among the families of the missing aviators, with the clock ticking on the potential for a successful rescue. The aviation community and the public at large are watching with bated breath, hoping for a positive outcome in this high-stakes search operation.
“The disappearance of the Cessna 152 marks a tragic chapter in the region's aviation history, underlining the risks associated with training flights in challenging terrains. Authorities are expected to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident once the aircraft is located, with the priority now being the safe recovery of the missing pilot and instructor,” said a social worker.
