"Unfortunate, prayers are with bereaved families": Assam CM condoles demise of 5 IAF personnel in AN-32 plane crash in Jorhat
Guwahati, June 13
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed his condolences for five Indian Air Force personnel who died in the tragic AN-32 plane crash at the Jorhat Air Force Station in Assam on Saturday.
In a post on X, CM Sarma said the Assam government is in touch with the concerned authorities and is ready to offer any support and assistance.
"Pained by the loss of 5 brave Air Warriors of @IAF_MCC in the AN 32 accident in Jorhat. The loss of Sqn Ldr Prashant Singh, Flt Lt Shubham Kumar, Sgt Jitendra Sharma, Agniveervayu Khemaram Kumawat and Agniveervayu Danish Alam in the line of duty is deeply unfortunate. On behalf of the people of Assam, I offer my thoughts and prayers with the bereaved families in this hour of grief," he said.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed deep anguish over the AN-32 crash, saying "Deeply anguished by the loss of five Air Warriors 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. Their courage and service to the nation will always be remembered with pride and gratitude. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. The nation stands firmly with them in this hour of grief."
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 the Ministry of Defence, IAF is mulling replacing its ageing AN-32 and IL-76 transport aircraft with the Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) programme to meet future strategic, tactical and operational airlift requirements.
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 at 10:00 am.
— ANI
Reader Comments
ഇത് വളരെ ദുഃഖകരമാണ്. Prayers for the families of the fallen heroes. The AN-32 has served the IAF well for decades, but it's clearly time for new aircraft. The MTA programme should be fast-tracked.
Om Shanti 🙏. The courage of our armed forces personnel is unmatched. It's disheartening to see such accidents, but it's a stark reminder that we need to invest in modernizing our equipment. The Chief Minister's quick response is commendable. Jai Hind!
Salute to these bravehearts. Sqn Ldr Prashant Singh and the team were true heroes. Our government should ensure the families get all support. Also, the AN-32 replacement can't come soon enough - these planes are getting old and risky.
A tragic loss of five young lives. Agniveervayu Khemaram Kumawat and Danish Alam were just starting their careers. This accident highlights the need for better safety protocols and modern aircraft. My condolences to all families.
Very sad day for Assam and the nation. My heart goes out to the families of Sgt Jitendra Sharma and Flt Lt Shubham Kumar. It's reassuring that CM Sarma has assured full support. But we must ask - why were these ageing aircraft still in service?
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