The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Sunday paid homage to five personnel who lost their lives in the crash of an AN-32 transport aircraft at the Jorhat Air Force Station in Assam.
According to defence officials, the mortal remains of Squadron Leader Prashant Singh, Flight Lieutenant Shubham Kumar and Agniveervayu Danish Alam are being transported to their hometowns in Dehradun, Gaya and Bhojpur, respectively, for the last rites.
The AN-32 transport aircraft met with an accident on Saturday while attempting to land at the Jorhat airfield. The crash claimed the lives of all five personnel on board.
In a statement posted on X, the Indian Air Force expressed grief over the loss and identified the deceased as Squadron Leader Prashant Singh, Flight Lieutenant Shubham Kumar, Sergeant Jitendra Sharma, Agniveervayu Khemaram Kumawat and Agniveervayu Danish Alam.
“The Indian Air Force deeply regrets the loss of five personnel in the AN-32 accident at Jorhat, Assam. They made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. The IAF extends its deepest condolences to the bereaved families and stands firmly with them in this hour of grief,” the force said.
The AN-32 is a twin-engine military transport aircraft widely used by the IAF for logistics support, cargo transportation and operational missions across varied terrains, including remote and high-altitude regions.
According to officials, the accident occurred at around 10 a.m. when the aircraft was attempting to land at the Jorhat Air Force Station. The exact cause of the crash has not yet been established.
Soon after the incident, the Indian Air Force ordered a Court of Inquiry to investigate the accident.
The inquiry will examine technical, operational and maintenance-related aspects of the flight to determine the circumstances that led to the crash.
The findings of the Court of Inquiry are expected to provide clarity on the cause of the accident and help identify any measures required to enhance operational safety.
-ANI
