An Indian Air Force (IAF) AN-32 transport aircraft crashed at Roureah Air Force Station in Assam's Jorhat on Saturday, triggering a major emergency response at one of the country's key military airbases in the Northeast.
The aircraft reportedly went down within the airbase premises while attempting to land. According to initial information, the AN-32 was operating on a route between Arunachal Pradesh and Jorhat when the accident occurred. Sources indicated that the pilot of the aircraft is feared dead, although official confirmation is awaited.
Also Read | 'All crew members are safe': MEA debunks reports of fresh attack on Indian-crewed vessel near Oman
IAF orders Court of Inquiry
Following the incident, the Indian Air Force said a Court of Inquiry would be constituted to ascertain the circumstances that led to the crash.
“A military aircraft crashed at the Air Force Station in Jorhat, Assam, during landing. The aircraft involved was an AN-32 cargo plane used for transporting supplies. The accident occurred while the aircraft was attempting to land at the airbase. There are fears that the pilot may have lost his life in the crash. Further details are awaited as rescue and investigation efforts continue at the site," said IAF.
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
Emergency response teams were immediately deployed to the crash location. Information regarding other personnel who may have been on board was not available at the time of reporting.
Eyewitness recounts moments after crash
Residents living near the Air Force Station reported seeing smoke rising from the crash site shortly after the aircraft went down.
“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," News18 quoted a resident living near the boundary wall of the Air Force Station as saying.
IAF AN-32 aircraft crashes at Assam's Jorhat airbase pic.twitter.com/oKQztcN98Q
— Vnation 111 (@Vnation_111) June 13, 2026
AN-32's operational role
The cause of the accident remains unknown. The AN-32 continues to be one of the Indian Air Force's most extensively used transport aircraft, particularly for logistics and supply missions in challenging terrains, including the Northeast.
The crash comes months after an IAF Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jet went down during a routine training mission in Assam's Karbi Anglong district, around 60 kilometres from the Jorhat Air Base.
FAQs:
What is the role of the AN-32 aircraft in the Indian Air Force?
The AN-32 serves as the IAF's primary medium tactical transport aircraft, carrying troops, equipment, and supplies to remote and high-altitude regions across India.
How many AN-32 aircraft does India currently operate?
The Indian Air Force currently operates around 105 AN-32 transport aircraft, many of which have undergone modernisation and avionics upgrades.
