A transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF), an AN-32, crashed and burst into flames at the Air Force Station in Jorhat, Assam, on Saturday.
Preliminary reports indicate that the AN-32 came down within the station’s boundaries, leading to a fire following the impact.
Immediately after the incident, emergency teams were rushed to the scene to bring the fire under control and evaluate the situation.
The reason for the crash has not yet been determined, and there is no clarity on possible casualties or injuries.
The IAF has confirmed the accident and stated that more details will be shared after an assessment of the situation is completed.
The Air Force has initiated an investigation into the crash, and further information is awaited.
The Antonov An-32 is a sturdy, twin-engine turboprop military transport plane, often described as the “workhorse” of the Indian Air Force. Originally built in the Soviet Union to meet Indian requirements, the IAF has a fleet of around 100 of these aircraft.
The An-32 is built to perform in demanding environments, operating reliably on high-altitude airstrips and in hot tropical conditions. It can carry up to 7.5 tonnes of cargo, 50 passengers, or 42 paratroopers, and is frequently used for dropping supplies in far-flung areas.
This incident comes months after two IAF pilots lost their lives in a Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet crash in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district. On March 5, the twin-seat fighter had taken off from the Jorhat Air Force Station for a routine mission and lost contact with ground control around 7:42 pm. The aircraft soon became untraceable and eventually crashed in a remote hilly area of Karbi Anglong, roughly 60 km from Jorhat, according to officials.
