Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday expressed his condolences following the death of five Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel in the tragic AN-32 aircraft crash at the Jorhat Air Force Station in Assam.
In a post on X, Sarma said the Assam government is in touch with the concerned authorities and is ready to provide any necessary support and assistance.
“Pained by the loss of five brave Air Warriors of @IAF_MCC in the AN-32 accident in Jorhat. The loss of Sqn Ldr Prashant Singh, Flt Lt Shubham Kumar, Sgt Jitendra Sharma, Agniveervayu Khemaram Kumawat and Agniveervayu Danish Alam in the line of duty is deeply unfortunate. On behalf of the people of Assam, I offer my thoughts and prayers to the bereaved families in this hour of grief,” he said.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also expressed deep anguish over the accident.
“Deeply anguished by the loss of five Air Warriors in the AN-32 accident at Jorhat, Assam. Sqn Ldr Prashant Singh, Flt Lt Shubham Kumar, Sgt Jitendra Sharma, Agniveervayu Khemaram Kumawat and Agniveervayu Danish Alam made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. Their courage and service to the nation will always be remembered with pride and gratitude. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. The nation stands firmly with them in this hour of grief,” Singh said.
The AN-32 is a twin-engine military transport aircraft extensively used by the Indian Air Force for logistics, cargo transportation, and operational support missions across diverse terrains, including high-altitude and remote regions.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the IAF is considering replacing its ageing AN-32 and IL-76 transport aircraft under the Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) programme to meet future strategic, tactical, and operational airlift requirements.
Confirming the incident, the IAF said, “An AN-32 transport aircraft met with an accident at the Jorhat Air Force Station in Assam. More details are awaited.”
The accident reportedly occurred at around 10 a.m. while the aircraft was attempting to land at the Jorhat airfield. The cause of the crash is yet to be officially determined. (ANI)
