In a tragic incident that has cast a shroud of sorrow over the Indian Air Force (IAF), five military personnel lost their lives after an AN-32 transport aircraft crashed at the Jorhat airbase in Assam. The mishap occurred during the landing phase when the aircraft suddenly caught fire on the runway and crashed. Following the unfortunate accident, the IAF issued an official statement confirming the fatalities, paying rich tributes to the bravehearts, and stating that the co-pilot, who sustained severe injuries, is currently battling for life in a military hospital.
The Indian Air Force released the names and details of the five deceased personnel with profound grief. The martyrs have been identified as Squadron Leader Prashant Singh, Flight Lieutenant Shubham Kumar, Sergeant Jitendra Sharma, Agniveervayu Khemaram Kumawat, and Agniveervayu Danish Alam. Expressing deepest condolences to the bereaved families, the IAF stated that the entire force stands firmly behind them in this hour of immense grief.
The AN-32 is a robust, twin-engine tactical transport aircraft built with Russian technology and is considered a vital asset for the Indian Air Force, especially for operating in challenging weather conditions and high-altitude terrains. In response to the tragedy, the airbase’s emergency and rescue teams immediately rushed to the spot to control the blaze and extract the personnel from the wreckage. To determine the exact technical reasons behind how such a reliable aircraft caught fire and crashed on the runway, the higher authorities of the Air Force have ordered a high-level Court of Inquiry.
