Mortal remains of AN-32 crash victims from Jorhat sent to their native places by IAF
Jorhat, June 14
The Indian Air Force on Sunday transported the mortal remains of the personnel who lost their lives in the crash of an AN-32 transport aircraft at the Jorhat Air Force Station in Assam on June 13, to their native places for the last rites with full military honours, Defence officials said.
The IAF also paid homage to five personnel who lost their lives.
According to defence officials, the mortal remains of three personnel, including Squadron Leader Prashant Singh, Flight Lieutenant Shubham and Agniveer Danish Alam, are being taken to their hometowns of Dehradun, Gaya and Bhojpur, respectively, for final rites.
The AN-32 transport aircraft crashed at the Jorhat Air Force Station on Saturday while attempting to land at the airfield during a routine sortie.
Confirming the incident, the Indian Air Force (IAF) had said, "An AN-32 transport aircraft met with an accident at the Jorhat Air Force Station in Assam. More details are awaited."
The IAF later confirmed that five personnel were killed in the crash and expressed condolences to the bereaved families.
In a post on X, the Air Force identified the deceased personnel as Squadron Leader Prashant Singh, Flight Lieutenant Shubham Kumar, Sergeant Jitendra Sharma, Agniveervayu Khemaram Kumawat and Agniveervayu Danish Alam.
"The Indian Air Force deeply regrets the loss of five personnel in the An-32 accident at Jorhat, Assam. Sqn Ldr Prashant Singh, Flt Lt Shubham Kumar, Sgt Jitendra Sharma, Agniveervayu Khemaram Kumawat and Agniveervayu Danish Alam made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. IAF extends its deepest condolences to the bereaved families and stands firmly with them in this hour of grief," said IAF.
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.
According to officials, the accident occurred at around 10 am when the aircraft was attempting to land at the Jorhat airfield. The circumstances leading to the crash are yet to be officially established.
Following the incident, the Indian Air Force ordered a Court of Inquiry to ascertain the cause of the accident.
The inquiry is expected to examine all aspects of the flight, including technical, operational and maintenance-related factors, to determine the circumstances that led to the crash.
— ANI
Reader Comments
My deepest condolences to the families. It's especially sad to see young lives like Flight Lieutenant Shubham and Agniveer Danish Alam lost so soon. We need better safety protocols and perhaps faster phasing out of older aircraft like the AN-32. 🙏
A sobering reminder of the risks our armed forces face daily, even during routine operations. Sqn Ldr Prashant Singh and his comrades leave behind grieving families and a grateful nation. My thoughts are with their loved ones. Rest in peace, heroes.
This is such a tragic loss. The AN-32 has been a workhorse of the IAF for years, but accidents like these raise questions about maintenance and modernization. I hope the Court of Inquiry finds the root cause and brings accountability, so no more families have to go through this pain. Om Shanti.
Condolences from across the border. Such sacrifices unite us in grief. The IAF's handling of the situation with full military honours is commendable. May the souls of the departed find peace, and may the families find strength in this difficult time.
Another tragic chapter for the IAF. It's not just about the hardware but the lives behind it. My heart goes out to the families, especially of Agniveervayu Khemaram Kumawat and Danish Alam—we lost some very young and promising personnel here. The inquiry must be thorough, and we need to ensure all safety measures are in place. Jai Hind 🇮🇳
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