Naval plane crashes near Goa, two missing

Panaji, March 25, 2015: A Dornier surveillance aircraft of the Indian Navy with three personnel on board crashed into the Arabian Sea off the coast of Goa late on Tuesday, an officer said. One of them was rescued and two others, including a woman officer, whose husband is also in the navy, are missing, the officer said on Wednesday. The aircraft was from the 301 Naval Air Squadron based at INS Hansa near Dabolim in Goa. It was on a training sortie and communication was lost at 10.02 pm Tuesday, the officer added. "Commander Nikhil Joshi has been rescued by fishermen in the area. The search is on for the pilot and observer. We have pressed six naval ships and four aircraft to rescue them," the officer said. The Indian Navy chief, Admiral Robin Dhowan, is also on his way to Goa, sources in New Delhi said. Six ships and a few aircraft are in area to look for the crew of the ill-fated Dornier. "The last known position was 25 nautical miles southsouth west off Goa," the officer said.