Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: Five Indian Air Force personnel died on June 13 when their AN-32 transport aircraft crashed at the Jorhat Air Force Station in Assam. The accident occurred at approximately 10 am during a routine sortie as the aircraft attempted to land, subsequently catching fire within the station grounds.
The deceased have been identified as Squadron Leader Prashant Singh, Flight Lieutenant Shubham Kumar, Sergeant Jitendra Sharma, Agniveervayu Khemaram Kumawat, and Agniveervayu Danish Alam. While five crew members perished, the co-pilot survived the crash and is currently receiving medical treatment.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed deep anguish over the loss and extended his condolences to the families of the victims. He stated that their courage and service to the nation would always be remembered with pride. The Indian Air Force also released a statement regarding the tragedy, noting: "An IAF AN-32 aircraft met with an accident during a routine sortie today at approximately 1000h at Jorhat, Assam. Crash site management and initial enquiries are on at this time. IAF requests everyone to refrain from speculation till preliminary results are not in."
The Indian Air Force has ordered a Court of Inquiry to determine the cause of the accident. Emergency teams were deployed immediately to the scene to manage the fire and conduct rescue operations. The AN-32, a twin-engine military transport aircraft, is a staple of the IAF fleet used for logistics and supply missions in remote and challenging terrains.
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