Five Indian Air Force personnel were killed after a military transport aircraft crashed while attempting to land at an air base in the northeastern Indian state of Assam, according to an official statement released by the Indian Air Force.
The accident involved a Russian-made Antonov An-32 transport aircraft that was conducting a routine mission before the crash occurred near Jorhat on Saturday.
Casualties Reported
The Indian Air Force confirmed the deaths of five personnel and expressed condolences to the families affected by the tragedy.
While officials did not immediately disclose the total number of people on board, media reports indicated that at least one crew member survived the crash. Authorities have not yet released further details regarding the condition of the survivor.
Investigation Underway
The aircraft reportedly crashed during its landing approach. Following the incident, the Indian Air Force announced that a formal court of inquiry would be established to determine the cause of the accident.
Images circulating in local media showed debris scattered across the crash site, with smoke rising from the wreckage as emergency responders arrived at the scene.
About the An-32 Aircraft
The Antonov An-32 is a twin-engine military transport aircraft designed for operations in challenging environments, including high-altitude and remote regions.
The Indian Air Force operates a large fleet of An-32 aircraft for military logistics, troop transport, humanitarian missions, and supply operations in mountainous areas across the country.
Previous Incidents
The crash has renewed attention on the operational safety of aging military transport aircraft. In 2019, another An-32 aircraft crashed in Arunachal Pradesh near India’s border with China, resulting in the deaths of all 13 personnel on board.
Authorities are expected to release additional information as the investigation progresses.
KSHETRAPULSE will continue monitoring developments and provide updates on major defence and security-related events across the region.
