Five Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel were killed after an An-32 military transport aircraft crashed during a routine flight in the northeastern Indian state of Assam today.
According to the Indian Air Force, the Antonov An-32 aircraft met with an accident in the Jorhat region of Assam while conducting a routine sortie. Authorities said crash site management operations and initial inquiries were immediately launched, while an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident.
Images broadcast by Indian media showed thick black smoke rising from the crash site, with the aircraft appearing to have broken into several pieces upon impact.
In a statement, the Indian Air Force expressed deep sorrow over the loss of the personnel who died in the crash. The victims were identified as Squadron Leader Prashant Singh, Flight Lieutenant Shubham Kumar, Sergeant Jitendra Sharma, Agniveervayu Khemaram Kumawat, and Agniveervayu Danish Alam.
“The Indian Air Force deeply regrets the loss of five personnel in the An-32 accident at Jorhat, Assam,” the force said, adding that the servicemen made the “supreme sacrifice in the line of duty”.
The Air Force also extended its condolences to the families of the victims and pledged its support during their time of grief.
The An-32 is a twin-engine military transport aircraft used extensively by the Indian Air Force to carry personnel and cargo. India currently operates a fleet of around 105 An-32 aircraft.
The crash is the latest accident involving the aircraft type. In 2019, an An-32 crashed in the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh near the Chinese border, killing all 13 people on board.
Further details regarding the cause of today’s crash are expected following the completion of the official investigation.
