Five IAF Personnel Killed as AN-32 Aircraft Crashes at Jorhat Air Base, Probe Ordered
Five Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel were killed after an AN-32 transport aircraft crashed at the Roureah Air Force Station in Assam’s Jorhat on Saturday. The co-pilot survived the crash and is currently receiving medical treatment, officials said.
The aircraft reportedly met with the accident while approaching Jorhat after flying from Arunachal Pradesh. It crashed within the premises of the strategically important air base, triggering an immediate emergency response.
In a statement, the Indian Air Force expressed grief over the loss of its personnel. “IAF deeply regrets the loss of lives and stands firmly with the bereaved families in this time of grief,” it said in a post on X.
Five air warriors killed
The deceased have been identified as Squadron Leader Prashant Singh, Flight Lieutenant Shubham Kumar, Sergeant Jitendra Sharma, Agniveervayu Khemaram Kumawat and Agniveervayu Danish Alam.
The identities were released after officials confirmed that five personnel on board had succumbed to injuries sustained in the crash.
Rajnath Singh condoles loss of lives
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and paid tribute to the personnel who died in the line of duty.
“Deeply anguished by the loss of five Air Warriors in the AN-32 accident at Jorhat, Assam. Their courage and service to the nation will always be remembered with pride and gratitude. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families,” Singh said.
Court of Inquiry ordered
The Indian Air Force has ordered a Court of Inquiry to investigate the circumstances that led to the crash. Officials said the exact cause of the accident remains unknown and will be determined through the inquiry.
Earlier, the IAF had confirmed that an AN-32 aircraft was involved in an accident while landing at Jorhat. Rescue and emergency response teams were rushed to the site shortly after the incident.
Eyewitness describes massive explosion
A local resident living near the air base said he saw thick black smoke rising from the crash site before a powerful explosion rocked the area.
“I could see the tail section of the aircraft and thick black smoke billowing into the sky. As I started moving away, there was a massive explosion and the entire area shook,” the eyewitness said.
Strategic importance of the air base
Roureah Air Force Station is one of the IAF’s key installations in the Northeast and plays a vital role in military logistics, troop movement and operational support in the region.
The AN-32 remains one of the Air Force’s most extensively used transport aircraft, particularly for missions in remote and mountainous terrain. Despite undergoing upgrades over the years, the aircraft has been involved in several accidents since its induction into service.
The latest crash comes months after an IAF Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jet went down during a routine training mission in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district, underscoring concerns over operational safety and aircraft maintenance in challenging flying environments.
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