Jorhat, India: Five Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel were killed after an Antonov AN-32 military transport aircraft crashed while attempting to land at Jorhat Air Force Station in Assam on June 13, 2026, marking one of the deadliest military aviation accidents in the Northeast in recent years.
The aircraft, a twin-engine AN-32 transport plane operated by the Indian Air Force, met with the accident at approximately 10:00 a.m. during what the IAF described as a “routine sortie.” The crash occurred during the landing phase at the Rowriah-based air station, with the aircraft reportedly failing to land safely before crashing outside the runway area and catching fire.
According to Indian Air Force officials, six personnel were on board the aircraft at the time of the accident. Five lost their lives, while the co-pilot survived and is undergoing medical treatment.
In an official statement posted on social media, the Indian Air Force said, “The Indian Air Force deeply regrets the loss of five personnel in the An-32 accident at Jorhat, Assam.”
The deceased personnel were identified as:
- Squadron Leader Prashant Singh
- Flight Lieutenant Shubham Kumar
- Sergeant Jitendra Sharma
- Agniveervayu Khemaram Kumawat
- Agniveervayu Danish Alam
The identity of the surviving co-pilot has not been officially released.
Emergency response teams, including firefighters and rescue personnel, were immediately deployed to the crash site. Senior Air Force officials rushed to Jorhat as rescue and recovery operations commenced. Authorities sealed the entire air station while emergency services secured the wreckage and began preliminary assessments.
Officials stated that the aircraft was involved in a routine operational mission. However, the Air Force has not disclosed the exact flight profile, intended route, or operational objective of the sortie. No official cause has been determined.
The Indian Air Force has ordered a Court of Inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.
IAF officials told media organizations that a detailed investigation would examine all possible factors, including technical, operational and environmental aspects. No evidence has yet been released indicating whether the accident resulted from a mechanical malfunction, pilot error, weather conditions or any other contributing factor.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed condolences to the families of the deceased personnel following the accident.
The AN-32 remains one of the Indian Air Force’s primary tactical transport aircraft and is extensively used for troop movement, logistics missions, cargo transport and operations in high-altitude and remote regions, particularly across India’s northeastern sector and Himalayan frontiers.
The accident has drawn attention to the AN-32 fleet, which has experienced several major accidents over the past two decades. In June 2019, another IAF AN-32 carrying 13 personnel disappeared after departing Jorhat for Mechuka in Arunachal Pradesh before crashing in mountainous terrain, killing everyone on board.
A separate AN-32 operating from Chennai to Port Blair disappeared over the Bay of Bengal in July 2016 with 29 personnel aboard and remains one of the most significant losses in Indian military aviation history.
As investigators begin examining the Jorhat crash site, the Indian Air Force has said it stands firmly with the families of the deceased personnel and will conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the accident.
The findings of the Court of Inquiry are expected to determine the exact sequence of events that led to the loss of the aircraft and five servicemen.
