Navy's P8I aircraft joins hunt for missing Indian sailors off Philippines

The Indian Navy's P8I, a long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft has reached Manila and joined the search and rescue operation for the missing Indian sailors. 

10 Indian crew members went missing after their cargo ship sank in the Pacific off the Philippines last week.

The 33,205-tonne cargo ship Emerald Star with 26 Indian nationals on board sank off Okinawa.

While 16 Indians were rescued, a search for the missing crew members was launched by Indian missions in the Philippines, Japan and China to locate them.

"Indian Embassy in Japan has informed me that a helicopter and 2 patrol vessels of Japan Coast Guard are engaged in search/rescue operations," said External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, in a series of tweets, said

The minister said the Indian Navy's P8I aircraft has reached Manila and joined the search and rescue operation for the missing Indians. P8I is a long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft.

Indian Navy P81 has reached Manila and has also joined the search and rescue operation for missing Indians. /3

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) October 16, 2017

Five Indian crew members of 'Emerald Star' are in Irene, the Philippines, and the country's mission is bringing them to Manila before repatriation to India. 

Updated status regarding the 26 Indian crew members of vessel 'Emerald Star' pic.twitter.com/EBIuyoCzwa

— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) October 15, 2017