The aircraft had crashed into the reservoir soon after taking off from Sonari Aerodrome, marking the beginning of a challenging search and recovery mission. The Indian Navy's involvement was crucial in locating and retrieving the wreckage, given the technical challenges posed by the depth and the underwater environment of the dam.

The incident has raised concerns about aviation safety, particularly for smaller, privately operated aircraft. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, with authorities expected to analyse the wreckage for clues that could explain what went wrong during the flight. 

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On August 22, a pair of shoes was found floating in the dam water that was subsequently recovered and identified. Initially, the search operation was conducted along with local authorities and then with NDRF, the company said.

The Indian Navy was then called for help and it deployed a Sonic Navigation and Ranging (SONAR) device, which would assist in identifying the exact position of the incident, it said.

"In this hour of distress, we stand by the family of our dear pilots who were involved in this incident. We mourn the loss of the pilots, which has been the biggest loss for us yet," the statement read.

(With PTI inputs)