IAF AN-32 Transport Aircraft Crashes During Landing in Assam's Jorhat

An Indian Air Force (IAF) AN-32 transport aircraft crashed and caught fire on Saturday morning while attempting to land at the Jorhat Air Force Station in Assam. Emergency response teams rushed to the site to extinguish the blaze and launch rescue operations.

The aircraft reportedly split in two upon impact adjacent to the runway inside the airbase premises. The IAF has confirmed the incident and ordered a Court of Inquiry to determine the cause of the accident.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated on social media that the state government is aware of the accident and is awaiting further details from military authorities.

The Antonov AN-32 is a Soviet-designed, twin-engine turboprop military transport aircraft. Operating a fleet of around 100 units, the IAF relies on this rugged aircraft as a logistical "workhorse" capable of lifting up to 7.5 tonnes of cargo, 50 passengers, or 42 paratroopers in extreme environments and remote high-altitude regions.

This incident follows another recent military aviation accident in the region. On March 5, an IAF Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet crashed in a remote hilly area of Assam's Karbi Anglong district, approximately 60 kilometers from Jorhat, resulting in the tragic deaths of both pilots on board.