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Five Killed as Antonov AN-32 Crashes in Assam

6/14/2026

39 7 Full Breakdown

Summary

Indian Air Force Crash

An Antonov AN-32 crashed while landing at Rowriah Air Force Station, Jorhat, Assam on June 13, 2026, killing five crew members.
The crash at about 10 a.m. produced a loud explosion, thick black smoke and triggered an emergency response by firefighters and medical teams.
The co-pilot survived and is receiving treatment.
The Indian Air Force opened a court of inquiry and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh pledged support to the families.

Summary

Sarma Demands Report

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma asked for an accident report and expressed condolences over the crashes.
In March 2026 a Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet crashed in Assam, killing two pilots.
The 2019 AN-32 crash in Arunachal Pradesh near the China border killed 13 people.
The AN-32 fleet includes about 105 aircraft used for transport in remote, mountainous areas with difficult weather.

Summary

IAF Crash

An AN-32 crashed, producing thick smoke and fire, after a March 7, 2025 crash-landing at Bagdogra, West Bengal.
The Indian Air Force asked on X that the public refrain from speculation until the court of inquiry reports.
Reports said the aircraft carried between 42 and 50 personnel, though their identities remain undisclosed.
Emergency responders were quickly deployed after social-media videos showed thick smoke and fire at the crash site.

History

Historical Context

Since the IAF’s first Antonov An-32 loss in the Ponmudi mountains in July 1990, the type has suffered repeated accidents—including a 13-person fatal crash at Mechuka in 2009 and a five-crew death at Jorhat in June 2026. These incidents highlight the fleet’s vulnerability in mountainous weather, prompting urgent calls for modernization and stricter altitude-weather procedures.

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Indian Air Force Crash

An Antonov AN-32 crashed while landing at Rowriah Air Force Station, Jorhat, Assam on June 13, 2026, killing five crew members.
The crash at about 10 a.m. produced a loud explosion, thick black smoke and triggered an emergency response by firefighters and medical teams.
The co-pilot survived and is receiving treatment.
The Indian Air Force opened a court of inquiry and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh pledged support to the families.

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