An Indian Air Force (IAF) AN-32 transport aircraft crashed during a landing attempt at Roureah Air Force Station in Assam’s Jorhat on Saturday, raising fears that the pilot may have lost his life.
According to the IAF, the AN-32 cargo aircraft was operating on a flight from Arunachal Pradesh to Jorhat when the accident occurred within the premises of the strategically important airbase in Upper Assam. The aircraft reportedly went down while attempting to land.
The Indian Air Force confirmed that a Court of Inquiry has been ordered to investigate the cause of the crash. Details regarding the number of crew members on board and the extent of casualties are yet to be officially confirmed.
“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. Further details are awaited as rescue and investigation efforts continue at the site,” the IAF said in a statement.
Emergency response teams were immediately deployed to the crash site, and rescue operations are underway.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing thick black smoke rising from the crash location. A local resident living near the Air Force Station said he could see the tail section of the aircraft before a massive explosion shook the surrounding area.
Roureah Air Force Station is one of the Indian Air Force’s key operational bases in the Northeast, playing a vital role in logistics and air operations across Assam and adjoining regions.
The cause of the accident remains unknown. The AN-32 fleet has witnessed multiple accidents since its induction into service, though it continues to be one of the IAF’s most extensively used transport aircraft for operational and logistical missions.
The incident comes months after an IAF Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jet crashed during a routine training mission in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district, approximately 60 kilometres from Jorhat Air Base.
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