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Five Indian Air Force personnel were killed after an AN-32 transport aircraft crashed at Jorhat Air Force Station in Assam. The IAF has ordered a Court of Inquiry to determine the cause of the crash.
Five Indian Air Force personnel were killed after an AN-32 transport aircraft met with an accident at the Jorhat Air Force Station in Assam. The aircraft, a twin-engine transport plane used by the Indian Air Force for cargo, logistics and operational support missions, reportedly crashed while landing at the airbase. Emergency response teams were immediately deployed after the aircraft caught fire following the accident. The crash took place at the Rowriah airbase in Jorhat, a strategically important Air Force station in Assam. Initial reports said the aircraft was on a routine sortie and developed a technical issue, after which it returned to the airbase. The aircraft then met with an accident during landing or taxiing, leading to a fire.The Indian Air Force has expressed deep regret over the loss of personnel and has ordered a Court of Inquiry to ascertain the exact cause of the crash. The inquiry will examine technical, operational and procedural factors connected to the incident. The personnel who lost their lives were identified in reports as Squadron Leader Prashant Singh, Flight Lieutenant Shubham Kumar, Sergeant Jitendra Sharma, Agniveervayu Khemaram Kumawat and Agniveervayu Danish Alam. A co-pilot reportedly survived the crash and is receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams, fire personnel and senior Air Force officials rushed to the crash site shortly after the incident. The AN-32 has long been one of the Indian Air Force’s key transport aircraft. It is widely used for carrying supplies, personnel and cargo across difficult terrain, including the North-East, high-altitude regions and remote forward locations. The aircraft has played a major role in supporting logistics for defence operations, disaster relief, transport of essential supplies and connectivity to remote military bases. However, the latest accident has once again brought attention to the safety record and ageing fleet concerns linked to the aircraft.
The crash has triggered grief across the defence community and the country. The loss of five personnel during duty has been described as a major tragedy, with tributes expected from political leaders, defence officials and citizens. The Court of Inquiry will be crucial in determining whether the crash was caused by a technical malfunction, operational issue, weather factor, runway condition or another cause. Until the inquiry is completed, officials are expected to avoid speculation. The incident also underlines the risks faced by military aviation personnel during routine operations. Even non-combat missions involve high levels of training, technical precision and operational danger. For now, the focus remains on supporting the families of the personnel who lost their lives, treating the injured survivor and completing the official investigation.
Key Highlights
- An IAF AN-32 transport aircraft crashed at Jorhat Air Force Station in Assam.
- Five Indian Air Force personnel were killed.
- A co-pilot reportedly survived and is undergoing treatment.
- The aircraft reportedly crashed while landing or taxiing.
- The IAF has ordered a Court of Inquiry.
- The AN-32 is widely used for logistics, cargo and operational support missions.
