IAF has ordered a Court of Inquiry after an AN-32 transport aircraft crashed at Jorhat airbase
Five Indian Air Force personnel were killed after an AN-32 transport aircraft crashed during a routine sortie at Jorhat airbase in Assam on Saturday. The co-pilot survived the crash and is currently undergoing treatment, the Indian Air Force (IAF) confirmed.
In an official statement, the IAF said five personnel lost their lives in the accident, while the surviving co-pilot is receiving medical care.
The aircraft crashed at around 10 am during what the Air Force described as a routine operational flight. Following the incident, the IAF ordered a Court of Inquiry to determine the cause of the crash.
✈️ An Indian Air Force An-32 crashed while attempting to land at Jorhat Air Base in northeastern India
According to local media, the aircraft broke apart and caught fire after impact. Reports suggest there were between 42 and 50 people on board.
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Officials said crash site management teams were immediately deployed, and preliminary investigations are underway. The Air Force also urged the public to avoid speculation until the inquiry establishes the facts surrounding the accident.
The identities of the deceased personnel and the surviving co-pilot have not yet been released.
Visuals from the crash site circulated widely on social media, showing thick plumes of smoke rising from the area as rescue and emergency response teams rushed to the scene. Reports indicated that the aircraft caught fire after impact.
The accident comes more than a year after another AN-32 aircraft made an emergency crash landing at Bagdogra in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district on March 7, 2025. All crew members survived that incident.
The AN-32 is a Soviet-era twin-engine turboprop transport aircraft that entered service in the 1980s. Known for its ability to operate in difficult terrain and adverse weather conditions, the aircraft is extensively used for transporting troops, equipment and supplies. It can carry around 40 to 50 personnel or up to 7.5 tonnes of cargo.
The Indian Air Force currently operates a fleet of around 105 AN-32 aircraft. Several of these have undergone modernisation, with upgrades carried out both through international collaboration and indigenous efforts.
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