Kochi: Bodies of Indian Air Force (IAF) soldiers Thomas Cheriyan of Kerala and three others, who went missing 56 years ago in a plane crash in Himachal Pradesh, were recovered on Monday, media reports said.
A native of Elanthoor in Pathanamthitta, Thomas was just 22 years old when the AN -12 aircraft of the IAF crashed over Rohtang pass on February 7, 1968.
The twin-engine turboprop transport aircraft was carrying 102 people while flying from Chandigarh to Leh when it crashed.
Mortal remains of others were recovered in a joint operation led by the Dogra Scouts of the Indian Army and Tiranga Mountain Rescue. Two of them were identified as Malkhan Singh and Sepoy Narayan Singh, while the other person has not been identified.
The matter was informed by the Defence ministry to Thomas’ family through Aranmula police, the reports said.
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