The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Saturday identified the five personnel who lost their lives in the tragic AN-32 aircraft accident at the Jorhat Air Force Station in Assam, describing them as having made the “supreme sacrifice in the line of duty.”
The deceased were identified as Squadron Leader Prashant Singh, Flight Lieutenant Shubham Kumar, Sergeant Jitendra Sharma, Agniveervayu Khemaram Kumawat, and Agniveervayu Danish Alam.
In an official statement issued hours after the accident, the IAF said: “The Indian Air Force deeply regrets the loss of five personnel in the AN-32 accident at Jorhat in Assam. Squadron Leader Prashant Singh, Flight Lieutenant Shubham Kumar, Sergeant Jitendra Sharma, Agniveervayu Khemaram Kumawat, and Agniveervayu Danish Alam made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty.”
The Air Force also extended its condolences to the families of the deceased.
“IAF extends its deepest condolences to the bereaved families and stands firmly with them in this hour of grief,” the statement added.
The accident occurred at around 10 a.m. during what the Air Force described as a routine sortie.
According to officials, the AN-32 transport aircraft met with an accident shortly after landing at the Jorhat airbase. The aircraft subsequently caught fire, prompting emergency response teams to rush to the site.
Earlier, the IAF had confirmed the incident and stated that crash-site management operations and preliminary inquiries were underway.
The Air Force also appealed to the public to refrain from speculation until the initial findings of the investigation are available.
Defence officials said technical teams have begun examining the wreckage to determine the cause of the accident. A formal Court of Inquiry is expected to be instituted by the Air Force.
The AN-32, a twin-engine tactical transport aircraft, remains a key platform for military logistics and personnel movement, particularly in the challenging terrain of the Northeast and other remote operational sectors.
–IANS
