Agencies | Jorhat:
Five Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel lost their lives after an AN-32 transport aircraft crashed at the Roureah Air Force Station in Assam’s Jorhat district on Saturday, according to IAF officials.
The co-pilot survived the crash and is currently undergoing medical treatment. Expressing condolences over the tragedy, the Indian Air Force said, “IAF deeply regrets the loss of lives and stands firmly with the bereaved families in this time of grief.”
The AN-32 aircraft reportedly crashed within the premises of the strategically significant air base while operating on a flight from Arunachal Pradesh to Jorhat. Emergency response teams were immediately deployed to the site following the accident.
The Indian Air Force has ordered a Court of Inquiry to ascertain the cause of the crash. Earlier, the IAF had confirmed that the aircraft met with an accident while landing at Jorhat Air Base.
Roureah Air Force Station is a key military installation in the Northeast and plays a vital role in logistics, air operations, and strategic deployments across the region.
Eyewitnesses described dramatic scenes following the crash. A local resident living near the air base said he observed the aircraft’s tail section and thick black smoke rising into the sky before a powerful explosion shook the surrounding area.
“I could see the tail section of the aircraft and thick black smoke billowing into the sky. The plane appeared to be stationary. As I started moving away from the area, there was a massive explosion. The entire area shook from the impact,” the resident said.
The exact cause of the accident remains unknown. Investigators are expected to examine both technical and operational factors as part of the inquiry.
The crash comes months after an IAF Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jet crashed during a routine training mission near Inglong Ekopi Hill in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district, approximately 60 kilometres from Jorhat Air Base.
