Assam: IAF orders court of inquiry into AN-32 crash at Jorhat airbase
Jorhat, June 13
The Indian Air Force has ordered a court of inquiry to ascertain the cause of the AN-32 transport aircraft crash that occurred at the Jorhat Air Force Station in Assam on Saturday.
The inquiry has been constituted following the accident involving the transport aircraft while it was attempting to land at the airbase.
In a post on X, IAF wrote, "An IAF An-32 aircraft met with an accident today while landing at Jorhat. A court of inquiry is being constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident."
The AN-32 is a twin-engine military transport aircraft that has been extensively used by the Indian Air Force for logistics, cargo transportation and operational support missions across diverse terrains, including high-altitude and remote regions.
Commenting on the incident, former Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Flight Operations Inspector Prashant Dhalla described the crash as unfortunate and said multiple factors could have contributed to the accident.
"It's a very unfortunate accident. The AN-32 is a widely used aircraft in the Indian Air Force and is primarily used for the transport of cargo. The surprising part is that this crash has happened within the vicinity of the Jorhart Air Force Station base. According to me, there can be multiple factors. That is a matter for the investigation. However, there were heavy rains reported. Also, low cloud activity was reported at Jorhart. It can be a case of spatial disorientation, a technical error, a weather related phenomena which has led to this catastrophic accident," Dhalla told ANI.
Earlier in the day, an AN-32 transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed at the Jorhat Air Force Station in Assam.
Confirming the incident, the IAF said, "An AN-32 transport aircraft met with an accident at the Jorhat Air Force Station in Assam. More details are awaited."
The accident reportedly took place when the aircraft was attempting to land at the Jorhat airfield.
Emergency response teams were immediately mobilised following the crash, and rescue and firefighting operations are currently underway.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I've seen these aircraft flying over Jorhat many times. They are tough birds, but the weather in Assam during monsoon is unforgiving. Low visibility and heavy rains create a dangerous combination even for experienced pilots. Prayers for the crew and their families.
It's heartbreaking to hear about this. The AN-32 has been serving our forces since the 1980s and is vital for transporting supplies to border areas. I hope the investigation is thorough and transparent, and any systemic issues are addressed. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
While accidents are always tragic, the IAF's quick response in initiating a court of inquiry is reassuring. Aviation safety is paramount, and this will hopefully identify any maintenance or training gaps. My condolences to the families affected.
This is so scary! My cousins are in the Army and they fly on these planes often. AN-32 has a good safety record overall, but crashes like this make you worried. Let's hope the flight data and black box can give clues. Also, spare a thought for the emergency teams who rushed in. 🙏
Respectful criticism: We keep hearing about ageing fleet and maintenance issues in military aviation. While IAF does its best, maybe we need faster modernisation of this fleet. Also, weather forecasting at such bases needs constant improvement. My thoughts are with the brave crew.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.