Coast Guard pilot’s body found in Arabian Sea after month-long search

The body of an Indian Coast Guard pilot who went missing after his helicopter crashed in September was found off the coast of Gujarat, authorities said on Friday.
Cmdr. Rakesh Kumar Rana, the pilot in command of the ALH MK-III helicopter, was among four people on board when it made a water landing in the Arabian Sea on September 2. One crew member was rescued, and the bodies of two others — Cmdr (JG) Vipin Babu and Pradhan Navik Karan Singh — were recovered shortly after the crash.
The Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy launched a massive search and rescue operation following the crash, but they were unable to locate Rana for over a month.
Rana’s remains were found about 55 kilometres southwest of Porbandar, Gujarat, on Thursday, the Indian Coast Guard said in a statement. The search for him involved more than 70 air sorties and several vessels, carried out over 82 ship days.
The remains will be cremated with full military honours, the Indian Coast Guard said.