Indian Air Force AN-32 transport aircraft crashes at Jorhat Air Force Station in Assam, five personnel killed

An Antonov AN-32 transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) was involved in an accident while landing at Jorhat Air Force Station in Assam on Saturday, 13 June 2026.

The aircraft met with an accident during a routine sortie at around 10 am, the IAF said.

"The Indian Air Force (IAF) deeply regrets the loss of five personnel in the An-32 accident at Jorhat," the force said in a statement.

The deceased personnel are Squadron Leader Prashant Singh, Flight Lieutenant Shubham Kumar, Sergeant Jitendra Sharma, Agniveer Vayu Khemaram Kumawat and Agniveer Vayu Danish Alam.

The IAF extended its deepest condolences to the bereaved families and said it "stands firmly with them in this hour of grief."

In an official statement released through its social media platform X, the Air Force noted that a court of inquiry had been constituted to determine the circumstances and causes surrounding the accident.

The statement read: "An IAF An-32 aircraft met with an accident today while landing at Jorhat. A court of inquiry is being constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident."

The incident occurred while the aircraft, AN-32, belonging to 43 Squadron, carrying cargo, was landing at the IAF's airbase in the Rowriah area.

Eyewitnesses said a loud explosion was heard, and the area was engulfed in smoke. Fire engines and ambulances were seen rushing to the spot.

The incident occurred only months after a Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed in the Karbi Anglong district of Assam, resulting in the deaths of both pilots on board. On 5 March, the twin-seat fighter jet had departed from Jorhat Air Force Station on a routine training sortie.

Communication with ground control was lost at approximately 7:42 p.m., after which the aircraft could no longer be tracked by radar systems. Subsequent investigations revealed that the aircraft had crashed in a remote and mountainous region of Karbi Anglong district, situated approximately 60 kilometres from Jorhat.

All about Antonov AN-32

The Antonov AN-32 is a twin-engined tactical transport aircraft designed by the Antonov Design Bureau in the Soviet Union during the 1970s. Developed from the AN-26, it was specifically engineered to operate effectively in hot climates and from high-altitude airfields. The aircraft features uprated turboprop engines mounted above the wings to enhance performance under demanding environmental conditions.

Renowned for its robustness and versatility, the AN-32 has been employed for troop transport, cargo delivery, medical evacuation, and humanitarian missions. Several countries, including India, continue to utilise the aircraft within their air forces for diverse operational and logistical requirements across varying terrains.