NEW DELHI: Five Indian Air Force personnel lost their lives after a Russian-made military transport aircraft crashed while attempting to land at an airbase in the northeastern state of Assam on Saturday, according to an official military statement.
âThe Indian Air Force deeply regrets the loss of five personnel in the An-32 accident at Jorhatâ, the air force said.
However, an Air Force official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that the aircraftâs co-pilot survived the crash.
Television footage aired by NDTV showed thick black smoke rising from the crash site, with the aircraft appearing to have broken apart on impact.
The Indian Air Force said it âextends its deepest condolences to the bereaved families and stands firmly with them in this hour of griefâ.
Earlier, the military stated that the Russian-made Antonov An-32 was carrying out a routine mission when it crashed during landing.
âA court of inquiry is being constituted, to ascertain the cause of the accident,â the air force said.
The twin-engine Antonov An-32 is designed to operate in high-altitude regions and extreme weather conditions. The Indian Air Force uses around 100 of these aircraft to transport military supplies and humanitarian aid to remote mountainous areas.
The crash adds to a series of recent military aviation incidents in India. In March, a Su-30MKI fighter aircraft crashed during a training mission in Assam.
âThe Su-30MKI which was on a training mission, crashed in the area of Karbi Anglong, Assam, approximately 60km from Jorhat,â the IAF said on X.
Earlier in February, a Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Tejas light combat aircraft was lost after overshooting a runway at a frontline airbase.
According to reports, it was the third Tejas aircraft lost since its induction into service. The first crash occurred near Jaisalmer in March 2024 following a firepower demonstration, while the second took place during an aerial display at the Dubai Airshow in November 2025. In both incidents, the pilots ejected safely.
