Indian Air Force AN-32 Transport Aircraft Crashes at Assam Air Base
JORHAT, ASSAM: An Indian Air Force (IAF) AN-32 transport aircraft crashed inside an air force station in Assam on Saturday morning, triggering a fire and prompting an immediate emergency response.
According to preliminary reports, the aircraft went down while attempting to land at the Jorhat Air Force Station in the northeastern Indian state of Assam, which borders Bangladesh. The crash occurred on the airbase premises, and the aircraft caught fire shortly afterward.
Emergency personnel and Quick Response Teams (QRTs) were swiftly deployed to the scene to contain the blaze and assess the situation. Authorities have not yet confirmed the cause of the accident, and there has been no official information regarding casualties or injuries.
The Indian Air Force confirmed the incident and said further details would be released after a comprehensive assessment of the situation.
The AN-32 is a twin-engine turboprop military transport aircraft widely regarded as one of the Indian Air Force’s most dependable logistical assets. Originally developed in the former Soviet Union, the aircraft has been a key component of India’s military transport fleet for decades, with around 100 units currently in service.
Designed to operate in challenging environments, the AN-32 is capable of flying in mountainous regions and extreme weather conditions. It can carry up to 7.5 tonnes of cargo, approximately 50 passengers, or 42 paratroopers, making it a crucial platform for transporting personnel and supplies to remote and difficult-to-access areas.
The latest crash comes just months after another Indian Air Force aircraft accident in Assam. In March, a Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet crashed in the Karbi Anglong district, killing both pilots on board.
The twin-seat fighter aircraft had taken off from Jorhat Air Force Station for a routine test flight before losing contact with air traffic controllers. Officials later located the wreckage in a remote mountainous area about 60 kilometres from Jorhat.
Authorities are expected to launch a detailed investigation into the AN-32 crash to determine the circumstances that led to the accident.
Source: NDTV