IAF AN-32 Crash in Assam: Five Air Force Personnel Killed, One Critically Injured During Landing Attempt at Jorhat
A tragic Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft accident claimed the lives of five military personnel, including two officers, on Saturday after an Antonov AN-32 transport aircraft crashed while attempting to land at Jorhat in Assam.
A sixth crew member survived the crash and was rescued from the wreckage but remains in critical condition.
The deceased personnel have been identified as Prashant Singh, Shubham Kumar, Jitendra Sharma, Khemaram Kumawat and Danish Alam.
Expressing grief over the loss, the Indian Air Force said in a statement on X that it deeply mourns the death of the five personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving the nation.
The force extended its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and assured them of its unwavering support during this difficult time.
Aircraft Crashed During Landing Attempt
According to sources familiar with the incident, the AN-32 aircraft took off from Jorhat at around 10 am on Saturday for Chabua as part of a scheduled paradrop training mission.
Shortly after becoming airborne, the crew reportedly requested permission to return and land.
During the landing process, the aircraft is said to have deviated from the runway, crossed an adjacent taxiway, and subsequently broken apart into two sections before bursting into flames.
Emergency response teams rushed to the site immediately after the crash, launching rescue and recovery operations. One survivor was pulled from the wreckage and shifted for urgent medical treatment.
Investigation Underway
In an earlier statement, the Indian Air Force confirmed that the accident occurred during a routine operational sortie near Jorhat.
The IAF stated that crash-site management operations and preliminary investigations had commenced and urged the public to avoid speculation until official findings are available.
Authorities are currently examining the circumstances that led to the accident, including the sequence of events between take-off and the attempted landing.
AN-32: A Key Workhorse of the Indian Air Force
The Antonov AN-32 has been one of the Indian Air Force’s most important transport aircraft for decades.
Originally acquired from the former Soviet Union in 1984, the aircraft has played a critical role in troop movement, logistics support, supply missions and operations in difficult terrains, particularly in the Himalayan region and the Northeast.
Despite its long and distinguished service record, the aircraft has been involved in several major accidents over the years.
The latest tragedy marks the third significant AN-32 crash in the past decade. Previous accidents involving the aircraft have claimed dozens of lives and raised concerns about the ageing fleet.
Previous Major AN-32 Accidents
One of the deadliest incidents occurred on July 22, 2016, when an AN-32 aircraft disappeared while flying from Tambaram Air Force Station in Chennai to Port Blair over the Bay of Bengal.
All 29 personnel on board were presumed dead after extensive search operations failed to locate survivors.
Another major accident took place on June 3, 2019, when an AN-32 crashed in mountainous terrain while en route to Mechuka in Arunachal Pradesh’s West Siang district, close to the India-China border.
The crash claimed the lives of all 13 people aboard the aircraft.
The latest crash at Jorhat has once again cast a spotlight on the challenges associated with operating ageing military transport aircraft, while leaving the Indian Air Force mourning the loss of five personnel who died while carrying out their duties in service to the nation.
