Crash of an AN-32 Transport Aircraft of the Indian Air Force (2026)

An Antonov AN-32 military transport aircraft belonging to the Indian Air Force crashed in Jorhat, a city in the northeastern Indian state of Assam, on 13 June 2026. All five air force personnel on board were killed in the accident, which occurred during a routine mission flight. A technical investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the crash.

The military transport aircraft took off from Jorhat Air Base in Assam on 13 June 2026 for a routine mission. During the flight, it was reported that the aircraft attempted to return to the base for landing. Upon landing, the aircraft veered off the runway, broke apart, and caught fire. Military and local emergency teams were immediately dispatched to the crash site. Upon reaching the debris field, responders confirmed that all five personnel on board had perished.

All five Indian Air Force personnel assigned to the military transport aircraft were killed at the scene of the accident. Official authorities confirmed that no other military or civilian passengers were on board. Military procedures have been activated to recover the bodies of the deceased from the debris field and complete identification processes.

In its initial statement, the Ministry of Defence officially confirmed that a military transport aircraft had crashed during a mission flight, resulting in the deaths of all five personnel on board. The ministry stated that formal notifications had been sent to the families of the deceased and that necessary support measures had been initiated.

The Indian Air Force spokesperson released technical data regarding the aircraft’s takeoff time, flight route, and the coordinates where radar contact was lost. The statement indicated that investigations were ongoing to determine whether an emergency call had been made during the flight and that the aircraft’s operational history and maintenance records were being reviewed. It was also confirmed that the accident occurred during a routine mission flight and that an official investigation has been launched to determine its causes.

A formal Court of Inquiry has been established within the Indian Air Force to determine the cause of the accident. The technical examination conducted by this board includes the following aspects:

• Analysis of Weather Conditions: The meteorological conditions across Assam during the time of the crash, including visibility and adverse weather effects on flight operations, are being examined.
• Technical and Mechanical Faults: The aircraft’s engine components, hydraulic systems, and flight control surfaces are being inspected by expert teams at the debris site.
• Analysis of Flight Data: Investigators aim to analyze technical parameters from the final moments before communication loss by retrieving the aircraft’s cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder (black box).