An Indian Air Force AN-32 transport aircraft crashed while attempting to land at Air Force Station Jorhat in Assam on Saturday, bringing renewed attention to one of the military's most widely used transport aircraft.
Sources said the pilot was feared dead, while details about other crew members were not immediately available. Emergency response teams were rushed to the site as authorities began assessing the situation.
A transport aircraft built for Indian conditions
The Antonov AN-32 is a medium military transport aircraft developed in the former Soviet Union. It is an upgraded version of the AN-26 and was specifically modified with more powerful engines to operate in hot climates and at high altitudes.
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India played a key role in the aircraft's development, becoming its launch customer after the Indian Air Force sought a transport platform capable of handling the country's diverse terrain and weather conditions.
An IAF An-32 aircraft met with an accident today while landing at Jorhat.
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) June 13, 2026
A court of inquiry is being constituted, to ascertain the cause of the accident. @DefenceMinIndia@SpokespersonMoD@HQ_IDS_India@adgpi@IndiannavyMedia@indiannavy
The aircraft entered IAF service in the 1980s and continues to form a significant part of the force's transport fleet. According to reports cited by News18, the IAF currently operates around 100 AN-32 aircraft.
One of its distinctive features is its engine placement above the wings, which helps reduce the risk of debris entering the engines while operating from rough or semi-prepared airstrips.
Why the AN-32 is called the IAF’s ‘workhorse’
Over the decades, the AN-32 has become a crucial asset for military logistics and transport operations.
The aircraft can carry up to 7.5 tonnes of cargo, around 50 passengers or 42 paratroopers. It is frequently used to transport troops, military equipment and supplies to remote and high-altitude locations, including regions where road connectivity remains limited, per a report by News18.
Its ability to operate in difficult conditions has earned it the reputation of being the IAF's "workhorse".
Upgrades keep the fleet flying
Despite being in service for more than four decades, the AN-32 remains operational due to a series of upgrades and maintenance programmes.
In 2009, the IAF launched a fleet-wide modernisation programme. Per News18, according to a 2024 report cited in Parliament, around half of the fleet had been upgraded.
The Air Force has also planned to overhaul 60 aircraft by the end of the 2028-29 financial year. The programme includes structural repairs, refurbishment and technical studies aimed at extending the life of the aircraft beyond 40 years.
#WATCH | Jorhat, Assam | A fire engine spotted arriving at the Jorhat Air Force station in Assam, where an AN-32 transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force has met with an accident. Further details awaited. pic.twitter.com/TsasrBjpm9
— ANI (@ANI) June 13, 2026
A history marked by accidents
The AN-32 has been involved in several major accidents over the years.
In 2019, an AN-32 carrying 13 personnel disappeared after taking off from Jorhat and later crashed in Arunachal Pradesh, killing everyone on board. Another AN-32 vanished over the Bay of Bengal in 2016 while flying from Chennai to Port Blair with 29 people aboard.
Fatal crashes were also reported in Arunachal Pradesh in 2009 and 2000, near Delhi's Palam airport in 1999, and during a mid-air collision involving two AN-32 aircraft in 1992.
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FAQs:
What is the AN-32 aircraft?
The AN-32 is a Soviet-designed military transport aircraft used by the Indian Air Force for carrying troops, cargo and supplies.
Why is the AN-32 called the IAF’s ‘workhorse’?
It is widely used for logistics missions in remote and high-altitude regions and has served the IAF for more than four decades.
