Panaji, March 26: The search is still on for 2 Indian Navy personnel who went missing when the crash of a Dornier-228 maritime surveillance aircraft, an officer said on Thursday.

Navy sources said one among the vessels within the search and rescue operation has detected an oversized metallic  object suspected to be the body of the doomed aircraft.

However, the missing personnel have thus far not been traced, the officer said.

“INS Makar, a service hydrographical vessel has detected an oversized metallic  object, victimization her facet scan sonar…it is seemingly to be the body of the ill-omened Navy Dornier,” the officer more.

“Depth within the space is 50-60 metres. INS Matanga with service diverse have embarked for the area and diving operations are to start shortly,” the officer said.

The Dornier-228 aircraft with 3 personnel on board crashed into the Arabian Sea off the coast of Goa on Tuesday night.

One survivor, Commander Nikhil Kuldip Joshi, was picked up by a passing watercraft from a fishing hamlet off Karwar and transferred to a service quick fighter craft.

The Indian Navy chief, Admiral Robin Dhowan, had hurried to Goa from New Delhi on Wed morning and met the families of the air crew, and Commander Joshi.