New Delhi: The Indian Air Force is mourning the loss of five of its personnel who were killed when an AN-32 transport aircraft crashed while landing at the Jorhat Air Force Station in Assam on June 13 during a routine training sortie.
The deceased were identified as Squadron Leader Prashant Singh, Flight Lieutenant Shubham Kumar, Sergeant Jitendra Sharma, Agniveervayu Khemaram Kumawat, and Agniveervayu Danish Alam. The co-pilot survived the crash and is receiving medical treatment. The IAF has expressed deep condolences to the bereaved families and has instituted a Court of Inquiry into the accident.
Squadron Leader Prashant Singh, the aircraft commander, hailed from Uttarakhand. Tributes poured in from colleagues, friends and family members following news of his death. Reports quoting family members described him as a dedicated officer committed to his duties until the very end.
Flight Lieutenant Shubham Kumar was among the younger officers of the force, while Sergeant Jitendra Sharma represented the experienced technical cadre that forms the backbone of military aviation operations. The two Agniveervayu personnel on board, Khemaram Kumawat and Danish Alam, belonged to the IAF's recently introduced Agnipath recruitment scheme, highlighting the diversity of experience levels among those serving in the armed forces.
The aircraft involved in the crash was an Antonov AN-32, a twin-engine military transport aircraft designed by the Antonov Design Bureau in the former Soviet Union. The aircraft entered service with the Indian Air Force in the mid-1980s and has since become one of its most extensively used transport platforms.
Designed specifically for operations in hot-and-high environments, the AN-32 features more powerful engines mounted above the wings, enabling it to operate effectively from short and unprepared runways in mountainous regions. This capability has made it particularly valuable in supporting military deployments in the Himalayas and the Northeast.
The aircraft is capable of transporting approximately 6.7 tonnes of cargo or around 50 fully equipped troops. Over the decades, it has been used for troop transport, logistics support, casualty evacuation, paradrop operations and humanitarian assistance missions.
Despite the arrival of more modern transport aircraft in the IAF inventory, the AN-32 continues to undertake a significant share of day-to-day operational tasks because of its versatility and ability to access remote airstrips.
The loss of the five personnel in Jorhat has once again highlighted the risks routinely faced by military aviators and support staff in carrying out operational and training missions across challenging environments.
As the nation pays tribute to the fallen air warriors, the Court of Inquiry's findings will be closely watched, both to establish the circumstances of the accident and to identify lessons that could help enhance aviation safety within the armed forces.
14/06/2026
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