Five Indian Air Force personnel were killed after an AN-32 transport aircraft crashed while landing at the Air Force Station in Assam’s Jorhat on Saturday morning.
According to the IAF, the aircraft met with an accident during a routine sortie at around 10 am. The deceased personnel have been identified as Squadron Leader Prashant Singh, Flight Lieutenant Shubham Kumar, Sergeant Jitendra Sharma, Agniveervayu Khemaram Kumawat and Agniveervayu Danish Alam.
Officials said the co-pilot survived the crash and is currently undergoing medical treatment. Emergency teams rushed to the spot after the aircraft crashed and caught fire inside the air base premises. Visuals from the site, which have surfaced online, showed smoke rising from the wreckage as rescue and fire teams carried out operations.
The Indian Air Force expressed grief over the loss of the five personnel and said it stands with the bereaved families in this hour of grief.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also paid tribute to the five air warriors, saying their courage and service to the nation will always be remembered with pride and gratitude.
A Court of Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the exact cause of the accident.
