Five Indian Air Force Officers Killed in Plane Crash

Five Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel were killed after an AN-32 military transport aircraft crashed during a routine training sortie at the Jorhat Air Force Station in Assam this morning, Saturday.

According to an official statement released by the IAF, the twin-engine transport aircraft encountered an anomaly and crashed within the parameters of the airbase at approximately 10:00 AM local time. Emergency response teams and crash tenders were deployed immediately to extinguish a massive fire that broke out at the crash site.

Casualties Identified by the Air Force

The Indian Air Force has released the identities of the five servicemen who lost their lives in the line of duty. The deceased personnel include:

• Squadron Leader Prashant Singh

• Flight Lieutenant Shubham Kumar

• Sergeant Jitendra Sharma

• Agniveervayu Khemaram Kumawat

• Agniveervayu Danish Alam

Expressing deep condolences, the IAF stated that the nation will forever honor the supreme sacrifice made by these bravehearts.

Preliminary reports indicate that the aircraft crashed inside the station premises while attempting to land. While emergency services managed to bring the post-crash fire under control, the exact technical cause behind the fatal accident remains unknown. The IAF has ordered a high-level Court of Inquiry (CoI) to investigate the structural or operational factors that led to the disaster.

Reacting to the tragic incident, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that the state administration is closely monitoring the situation. "We are aware of the tragic transport aircraft crash at the Air Force Station in Jorhat and are awaiting further details from the military authorities," he noted.

The Antonov AN-32 is a Soviet-era tactical twin-engine military transport aircraft that serves as the backbone of the IAF's tactical airlift fleet. Specifically customized to meet Indian operational requirements, these aircraft are heavily utilized for hauling cargo, transporting troops, and operating air supply chains across rugged, high-altitude mountainous terrains. The IAF currently operates a fleet of around 100 AN-32 aircraft.

The accident marks another major setback for the IAF's Eastern Air Command. Just a few months ago, an IAF Sukhoi Su-30 MKI fighter jet—which had also taken off from the same Jorhat airbase on a routine mission—crashed in Assam's Karbi Anglong district, resulting in the tragic deaths of both pilots on board.