Kharge, Priyanka condole death of 5 IAF personnel in Assam plane crash (Ld)
New Delhi, June 13
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday expressed grief over the tragic loss of five bravehearts in the Indian Air Force aircraft crash in Assam and said that we salute their service and selfless sacrifice, and will forever remain indebted to them and their families.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge took to social media 'X' and said, "Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of five bravehearts in the Indian Air Force aircraft crash in Assam. My heartfelt condolences to their families and loved ones in this moment of grief. We salute their service and selfless sacrifice, and will forever remain indebted to them and their families."
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also expressed grief over the martyrdom of five brave soldiers in an Air Force plane crash in Assam, describing the incident as deeply saddening.
Taking to social media platform X, Priyanka Gandhi said, "The news of the martyrdom of five brave soldiers in an Air Force plane crash in Assam is deeply saddening. May God grant peace to the departed souls. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families."
She further said, "The nation will forever remain indebted to our brave soldiers and their families."
At least five IAF personnel were killed after an AN-32 transport aircraft met with an accident while landing at the Jorhat airbase in Assam and burst into flames on Saturday, defence officials said.
According to the IAF, the incident occurred at approximately 10 a.m. after the aircraft landed at the Jorhat Air Force Station. The aircraft reportedly burst into flames shortly after touchdown, triggering an immediate emergency response from Air Force and airport firefighting teams.
"An IAF AN-32 aircraft met with an accident during a routine sortie today at approximately 1000h at Jorhat, Assam. Crash site management and initial enquiries are on at this time. IAF requests everyone to refrain from speculation till preliminary results are in," the IAFZ said in a statement.
Defence officials later said that five people lost their lives in the incident. The identities of the deceased have not yet been officially released. Further details regarding the circumstances leading to the crash are awaited.
The IAF expressed condolences over the tragedy, stating: "IAF deeply regrets the loss of lives and stands firmly with the bereaved families in this time of grief."
A detailed investigation is expected to be ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident. Technical experts and Air Force authorities are examining the crash site while initial enquiries remain underway.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Very sad. Five families destroyed. I hope the investigation is thorough and we find out what went wrong, but let's also respect the privacy of the families. 🙏
It's good that leaders like Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi have shown solidarity. But the real need is for better safety protocols for our aging AN-32 fleet. We have lost so many lives in such accidents. Time for modernization.
Condolences to the families. I hope the IAF takes this as a learning opportunity. We need to ensure our servicemen and women are safe even in routine operations.
Salute to the brave hearts. May their souls rest in peace. The nation owes them a debt that can never be repaid. 😢
Praying for the families. At the same time, I wish the media would focus more on the systemic issues like aircraft maintenance and pilot fatigue rather than just political statements.
Let's remember the real heroes.
Tragic. My husband served in the IAF for 20 years. I know the risks. Every loss hits home. Deepest condolences to the bereaved. 🇮🇳
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