At least 5 personnel killed as IAF AN-32 aircraft crashes while landing at Assam's Jorhat airbase

At least five personnel were killed after Indian Air Force's AN-32 transport aircraft crashed at Roureah Air Force Station in Assam’s Jorhat on Saturday. The aircraft was identified as a carrier plane that went down near a strategically important air base in Upper Assam.

"A military aircraft crashed at the Air Force Station in Jorhat, Assam, during landing. The aircraft involved was an AN-31 cargo plane used for transporting supplies," the IAF said in a statement on Saturday afternoon.

"The accident occurred while the aircraft was attempting to land at the airbase. There are fears that the pilot may have lost his life in the crash. Further details are awaited as rescue and investigation efforts continue at the site," it added.

In a later post the IAF, confirmed the death toll and identified 2 Agniveervayus killed in the attack. "The Indian Air Force deeply regrets the loss of five personnel in the An-32 accident at Jorhat, Assam," IAF wrote in a post.

More from India

"Sqn Ldr Prashant Singh, Flt Lt Shubham Kumar, Sgt Jitendra Sharma, Agniveervayu Khemaram Kumawat and Agniveervayu Danish Alam made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. Condolences to the bereaved families and stands firmly with them in this hour of grief," the post further reads.

Emergency team rushed to site

Emergency teams were rushed to the crash site, and further details are awaited. It is pertinent to note that the Roureah Air Force Station is one of the key Indian Air Force installations in the Northeast and is known to play a crucial role in air operations across Assam and the region.

The cause of the crash is still unknown. It is important to note that the AN-32 has been involved in around 22 crashes in India since 1986. The most recent crash of the aircraft occurred just last year. Despite this, the aircraft remains one of the Indian Air Force’s most heavily used carriers and continues to play a crucial role in logistics and operational missions across the country.

The incident occurred months after an IAF Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jet crashed at Inglong Ekopi Hill in Bokajan Sub Division of the Karbi Anglong district during a routine training mission approximately 60 km from Jorhat Air Base.