India Dispatches P-8I To Help In Search And Rescue After Chinese 'Fishing Vessel' Capsizes Near US' Diego Garcia Base In Indian Ocean

The Indian Navy has deployed one P-8I Neptune Maritime Surveillance Aircraft on 17 May to help locate a Chinese fishing vessel that capsized with 39 crew in the southern Indian Ocean, the Indian Navy said in a statement.

The Chinese fishing vessel 'Lu Peng Yuan Yu 028' reportedly capsized approximately 900 nautical miles from the Indian shores in the southern Indian Ocean. The vessel was carrying individuals of Chinese, Indonesian, and Philippine nationalities.

The area is close to 287 nautical miles from the American base at Diego Garcia, and a multinational search and rescue operation is currently ongoing in the area where the vessel is believed to have capsized.

"In a swift humanitarian action on 17 May deployed its Air Maritime Reconnaissance (MR) assets in the Southern IOR approx 900 Nm from India, in response to sinking of a Chinese Fishing Vessel Lu Peng Yuan Yu 028 with 39 crew onboard. The crew included nationals from China, Indonesia & Philippines," the Navy said.

Despite adverse weather, the navy located some objects belonging to the vessels.

"P8I aircraft have carried out multiple & extensive searches despite adverse weather & located multiple objects possibly belonging to the sunken vessel," the statement added.

According to the statement, the People Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) first requested the assistance, and "As an immediate response, SAR equipment was deployed at the scene by the Indian aircraft on request of PLAN ships closing the area."

The Indian Navy has also guided PLAN warships transiting in the area to the scene of the incident.

"In a display of India’s obligations as a credible & responsible partner for ensuring safety at sea, the Indian Navy units also coordinated Search and Rescue (SAR) efforts with other units in the area & guided PLAN warships transiting to the scene of incident," the navy said.