Indian Air Force’s AN-32 aircraft crashed at Roureah Air Force Station in Assam’s Jorhat on Saturday. The aircraft, identified as an AN-32 carrier plane, reportedly went down within the vicinity of the strategically important airbase in upper Assam. Indian media reported that the pilot of the ill-fated aircraft was feared dead. Details regarding any other crew members on board were not immediately available.

“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. Emergency teams have been rushed to the crash site and further details are awaited.

Roureah Air Force Station is one of the key Indian Air Force installations in the northeast and plays a crucial role in air operations across Assam and the region. The cause of the crash is not yet known. The AN-32 has been involved in around 22 crashes in India since 1986. The most recent AN-32 crash occurred in 2025. Despite its accident history, the aircraft remains one of the Indian Air Force’s most heavily used transport platforms and continues to play a crucial role in logistics and operational missions across the country.

This comes months after IAF Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jet crashed at Inglong Ekopi Hill in Bokajan Sub Division of the Karbi Anglong district during a routine training mission approximately 60 km from Jorhat Airbase. In June 2019, an Indian Air Force (IAF) AN-32 transport aircraft had crashed in Arunachal Pradesh, killing all 13 military personnel on board.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)