IAF AN-32 Aircraft Crashes at Assam's Jorhat Airbase; 5 Dead

Five Indian Air Force personnel have lost their lives in the air crash involving the AN-32 transport aircraft at the Jorhat air base in Assam on Saturday.

"The co-pilot has survived and is being provided treatment. A court of inquiry has been ordered by the Indian Air Force to ascertain the cause of the crash," the ANI quoted IAF officials in a tweet. The aircraft suffered the crash during the landing phase.

Upon hearing the news, senior IAF officials rushed to spot to assess the situation and oversee rescue and response efforts. "An Indian Air Force aeroplane, AN-32, has crashed while landing in Assam's Jorhat district on Saturday," PTI quoted the defence spokesperson as saying.

Speaking to IANS, an eyewitness said, "My house is located near the airport and I heard a sudden loud sound. I got to know about the plane crash and saw black smoke...One pilot died in the incident, while another pilot has been admitted to a civil hospital..."

The AN-32 is a twin-engine turboprop tactical transport aircraft that serves as the "workhorse" of the Indian Air Force (IAF). Developed by the Soviet Union's Antonov Design Bureau (now Ukrainian) specifically for IAF requirements, it was inducted into the IAF in 1984 after India procured 125 aircraft between 1984-1991.

Despite being considered one of the most dependable transport aircraft in the IAF inventory, the AN-32 has experienced 18 crashes and accidents since 1984.

BIG BREAKING : 🇮🇳 Indian Air Force IAF AN 32 Aircraft Crashed while Landing at Jorhat Air Base in Assam

IAF personnel have immediately reached and are carrying out rescue operations.

The Antonov An-32 is a twin engine, Soviet origin military transport aircraft#planecrash pic.twitter.com/qq6qIBLmSp

— Kamalraj Singh (@kamalrajsingh_) June 13, 2026

The most notable incident occurred in 2016 when an AN-32 went missing over the Bay of Bengal with 29 people aboard. The search intensified for months, and wreckage was finally confirmed off Chennai's coast in January 2024, bringing closure to one of the IAF's most painful aviation tragedies.

However, for over four decades, the AN-32 has flown through the most demanding conditions Indian military aviation can present. From supplying border troops in thin air to evacuating civilians during natural disasters, it remains a symbol of the IAF's commitment to serving the nation's defense and humanitarian needs.

#WATCH | Greater Noida, UP | On IAFs AN-32 aircraft accident in Assam, Air Marshal Sanjeev Kapoor (Retd) says, "The exact reason will be known as and when more details come out or the Court of Inquirydetails are made public."

"AN-32 is a very safe aeroplane which has been… pic.twitter.com/UEuwwDtfSg

— ANI (@ANI) June 13, 2026

On IAF's AN-32 aircraft accident in Assam, Air Marshal Sanjeev Kapoor (Retd) told ANI, "The exact reason will be known as and when more details come out or the Court of Inquirydetails are made public."

He explained, "AN-32 is a very safe aeroplane which has been flying in the Indian Air Force for last 40 years. It has been the backbone of the transport fleet operating in the north in Siachen, Leh, Ladakh and drop zones. Operating over the oceans in Andaman and Nicobar and sustaining our island territories of Lakshadweep and Port Blair. It has also been operating in the desert areas in the Southwestern Air Command. It has been operating in the maritime roles, along our coastal regions. So long and short, be it para, be it assault, be it any evacuation, special ops, or a normal communication, these aeroplanes have stood the test of time for the Indian Air Force. They have been upgraded. They are absolutely in good condition, though old."