WEB DESK: An Indian Air Force (IAF) Antonov An-32 transport aircraft crashed and caught fire while attempting to land at Jorhat Air Force Station in the northeastern state of Assam on Saturday, killing all five personnel on board.

The aircraft, assigned to the IAF’s 43 Squadron, was carrying out a routine cargo mission when the accident occurred at around 10:00am local time at the Rowriah airbase.

Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud explosion before thick smoke engulfed the runway. Firefighters, rescue teams and medical personnel rushed to the scene to extinguish the blaze and secure the area.

According to Indian media reports, the aircraft caught fire immediately after landing, a development later confirmed by the Indian Air Force.

In an official statement, the IAF confirmed that all five personnel on board had lost their lives and expressed condolences to their families.

The deceased were identified 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,” the force said in a statement, adding that it stood with the bereaved families during this difficult time.

The IAF also announced that a court of inquiry had been ordered to determine the cause of the accident.

The crash has renewed attention on the Indian Air Force’s operational safety, following a series of aviation accidents involving military aircraft in recent months.

Authorities have not yet disclosed the cause of the crash, and investigations are underway.