IAF An-32 crash near Jorhat kills five personnel; co-pilot survives, inquiry ordered

IAF extends its deepest condolences to the bereaved families and stands firmly with them in this hour of grief,” IAF said in a post on X on Saturday. Giving details, IAF said the “aircraft met with an accident during a routine sortie today at approximately 1000h at Jorhat, Assam. Crash site management and initial enquiries are on at this time.”

Guwahati, June 13: Five Indian Air Force personnel were killed after an AN-32 transport aircraft met with an accident during a training sortie at the Air Force Station in Jorhat, Assam, on Saturday morning.Crash DetailsThe accident occurred at around 10 am within the premises of the airbase, where the aircraft reportedly caught fire after crashing, triggering an emergency response.In a statement posted on X, the Indian Air Force (IAF) said, “An IAF An-32 aircraft met with an accident during a training sortie today at approximately 1000h at Jorhat, Assam. Crash site management and initial enquiries are on at this time. IAF requests everyone to refrain from speculation till preliminary results are not in.”The Indian Air Force deeply regrets the loss of five personnel in the An-32 accident at Jorhat, Assam.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.… pic.twitter.com/9SmOjtS5mU— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) June 13, 2026A few hours later, the IAF confirmed the deaths of five personnel in the accident.Deceased Identified“The Indian Air Force deeply regrets the loss of five personnel in the An-32 accident at Jorhat, Assam,” it said in another post.The deceased were identified as Squadron Leader Prashant Singh, Flight Lieutenant Shubham Kumar, Sergeant Jitendra Sharma, Agniveervayu Khemaram Kumawat and Agniveervayu Danish Alam.Contradictory Initial Reports“IAF extends its deepest condolences to the bereaved families and stands firmly with them in this hour of grief,” the statement added.Initial reports following the crash had suggested that one pilot was feared dead while the co-pilot had sustained injuries and was undergoing treatment at the Air Force Station's medical facility. The Air Force later confirmed the loss of five personnel.Emergency ResponseEmergency teams were rushed to the crash site immediately after the accident to contain the fire and secure the area. Crash site management operations and preliminary inquiries are currently underway.Residents living near the airbase said they heard a loud noise before noticing thick plumes of smoke rising from inside the military installation.“We heard a loud noise and came outside to see what had happened. That's when we noticed thick black smoke billowing from the area,” a local resident said.Another resident claimed the aircraft appeared to have been on the ground at the time of the incident.Assam Bans Fresh Aadhaar Enrolment For Adults Above 18 To Curb Illegal Immigration, Exempts SC/ST/Tea Garden Till 2027“The aircraft was not in flight. It appeared to be stationed on the ground, and I did not hear the sound of an aircraft flying overhead. I only saw thick black smoke rising from the site,” the resident said.The circumstances leading to the accident remain unclear and the exact cause has not yet been established. The Indian Air Force has initiated preliminary inquiries into the incident.The Soviet-origin AN-32 is a twin-engine tactical transport aircraft that has served as one of the IAF’s key workhorses for decades, particularly in high-altitude regions and difficult terrain across the Northeast and the Himalayan frontier.The accident has revived memories of the June 2019 AN-32 tragedy, when an IAF aircraft carrying 13 personnel went missing after taking off from Jorhat Air Force Station for Mechuka in Arunachal Pradesh. Following an extensive search operation, the wreckage was located in the mountainous terrain of Arunachal Pradesh and all 13 personnel on board were declared dead.

Five Indian Air Force personnel tragically lost their lives in an An-32 aircraft accident near Jorhat, Assam, during a routine sortie. The aircraft crashed outside the airstrip, prompting an ongoing investigation into the cause. The IAF has requested that speculation be avoided until preliminary results are available.

Five Indian air force personnel were killed when a military plane crashed while landing at a base in the country’s remote northeast on Saturday, the military said in a statement. “The Indian Air Force deeply regrets the loss of five personnel in the An-32 accident at Jorhat”, a city in Assam state, the air force said in a statement. It did not say how many people were on board at the time, or whether there were any survivors. However, an air force official, speaking on condition of anonymity as...

New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday expressed condolences to the families of the five Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots killed in the Jorhat AN-32 crash."Deeply anguished by the loss of five Air Warriors in the AN-32 accident at Jorhat, Assam," Singh wrote on X.Among the Air Warriors who lost their lives are Sqn Ldr Prashant Singh, Flt Lt Shubham Kumar, Sgt Jitendra Sharma, Agniveervayu Khemaram Kumawat and Agniveervayu Danish Alam. The co-pilot survived the crash and is currently undergoing treatment.Deeply anguished by the loss of five Air Warriors in the An-32 accident at Jorhat, Assam. 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. Their courage… https://t.co/eChXozjT85— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) June 13, 2026 "Their courage and service to the nation will always be remembered with pride and gratitude. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. The nation stands firmly with them in this hour of grief," Singh added.The statement comes soon after IAF confirmed the deaths of five personnel in the AN-32 transport aircraft accident at Jorhat Air Force Station in Assam, describing their deaths as a "supreme sacrifice in the line of duty." The accident took place on June 13, 2026, while the AN-32 transport aircraft was approaching the runway at the Rowriah airfield inside Jorhat Air Force Station.IAF Confirms Death Of 5 Personnel In Jorhat AN-32 Crash; Injured Co-Pilot Undergoing Treatment, Inquiry OrderedThe Indian Air Force has ordered a court of inquiry to ascertain the cause of the accident.

Tragedy struck Jorhat, Assam, as an Indian Air Force An-32 aircraft crashed during a routine sortie, claiming the lives of five personnel. The IAF confirmed the identities of the deceased, including Squadron Leader Prashant Singh and Flight Lieutenant Shubham Kumar. Investigations are underway, and the nation mourns the supreme sacrifice made by these brave air warriors.