Punjab Newsline | Jorhat (Assam)
An Indian Air Force (IAF) AN-32 transport aircraft crashed while attempting to land at the Roria Air Base in Jorhat, Assam, on Saturday morning, killing all five personnel on board, including the pilot.
According to initial reports, the accident occurred during the aircraft's landing approach. The AN-32 cargo plane caught fire immediately after the crash and split into two sections, leaving no survivors.
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 exact cause of the accident is yet to be determined. The Indian Air Force has ordered a Court of Inquiry to investigate the circumstances leading to the crash.
The AN-32 is a tactical military transport aircraft widely used by the IAF for carrying troops, equipment, and logistical supplies. The Air Force currently operates around 100 AN-32 aircraft, although it originally inducted 125 Soviet-origin planes into its fleet.
Serving since the 1980s, the AN-32 has been the backbone of the IAF's medium-lift transport capability. It is known for its ability to operate effectively in high-altitude regions such as the Himalayas and under extreme weather conditions, making it one of the force's most reliable transport aircraft.
