An Indian Air Force AN-32 that had taken off from Chennai to Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar islands was reported missing.
The AN-32 aircraft took off at 0830 hours from Tambaram in Chennai and the last contact with it was made 16 minutes later, defence sources said.
The aircraft can fly for up to four hours without refuelling.
A massive search operation has been launched by the IAF, Navy and the Coast Guard, sources said.
“Aircraft IAF AN-32 is overdue. IAF has launched search & rescue ops. There were 29 people on board,” Wing Commander Anupam Banerjee, PRO, IAF said.