Five Indian Air Force personnel have lost their lives after a military transport aircraft crashed during a routine mission in India’s northeastern state of Assam.
The Indian Air Force confirmed on Saturday that an Antonov An-32 transport aircraft met with an accident in the Jorhat region of Assam while conducting a routine sortie. Moreover, all five personnel on board were killed in the crash.
In a statement, the Air Force said emergency teams were immediately deployed to the crash site. Furthermore, an investigation had been launched to determine the cause of the accident.
“Crash site management and initial enquiries are underway,” the Air Force said, adding that a detailed probe would be conducted to establish the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
Images broadcast by local media showed thick black smoke rising from the wreckage. The aircraft appeared to have broken into several pieces upon impact.
The Antonov An-32 is a twin-engine military transport aircraft widely used by the Indian Air Force for moving personnel, equipment, and supplies. In particular, it is often deployed in difficult terrains and high-altitude regions. For example, India currently operates a fleet of more than 100 An-32 aircraft.
The crash has once again raised concerns about the safety and maintenance of ageing military aircraft. Previously, the last major An-32 accident occurred in 2019. At that time, an aircraft crashed in Arunachal Pradesh near the China border, killing all 13 people on board.
Authorities are expected to release further details as investigations continue into the latest incident.
#India #IndianAirForce
