New Delhi: Five Indian Air Force personnel lost their lives after an Antonov An-32 transport aircraft crashed during a routine sortie in the northeastern state of Assam, according to officials.
The accident occurred in the Jorhat region of Assam on Saturday. In a statement, the Indian Air Force said the An-32 aircraft met with an accident while carrying out a routine mission.
Authorities have not yet released details regarding the circumstances that led to the crash.
Following the incident, rescue and emergency teams were dispatched to the area. Officials are working to assess the situation and gather information related to the accident. An investigation is expected to be conducted to determine the cause of the crash.
The An-32 is a military transport aircraft used extensively by the Indian Air Force for the movement of personnel, equipment, and supplies.
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, 2026
The aircraft is particularly important for operations in remote and difficult terrains, including India’s northeastern and border regions. The Indian Air Force currently operates a fleet of around 105 An-32 aircraft.
The crash is among the latest accidents involving the aircraft type. In June 2019, an An-32 aircraft crashed in Arunachal Pradesh near the India-China border, resulting in the deaths of all 13 people on board. That incident prompted extensive search and recovery operations in the mountainous region.
Saturday’s crash has once again drawn attention to the challenges of operating military transport aircraft in demanding environments. The Indian Air Force has expressed condolences to the families of the personnel who lost their lives.
