Five Indian Air Force personnel have been killed after a military transport plane crashed in a fireball during landing at Rowriah Airbase in Assam, India, with the tragedy captured on CCTV
Five Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel were killed in the crash(Image: Jam Press)
A transport aircraft crashed into a fireball while attempting to land at an airbase, claiming the lives of five personnel in a horrific accident caught on CCTV. The Antonov AN-32, operated by 43 Squadron of the Indian Air Force, was conducting a routine training exercise when disaster struck.
The military aircraft made contact with the runway normally before drifting to the left during its landing sequence. It subsequently careered off the tarmac, rolled over on the grass verge and burst into flames. Local residents reported hearing a tremendous bang followed by plumes of thick black smoke billowing from the facility.
Officials raced to the location as the airbase was locked down in the aftermath of the crash. Five Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel perished in the incident, as reported by NeedToKnow.
They have been named as Squadron Leader Prashant Singh, Flight Lieutenant Shubham Kumar, Sergeant Jitendra Sharma, Agniveervayu Khemaram Kumawat and Agniveervayu Danish Alam.
Remarkably, the aircraft’s co-pilot survived the high-impact smash, and is presently undergoing medical care for severe injuries.
The tragedy occurred at Rowriah Airbase in Assam, India, on Saturday morning (13 Jun).
In an official statement, the IAF voiced profound sorrow at the loss of five personnel and extended sympathies to the grieving families.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh paid homage to the fallen air warriors, describing their bravery and dedication to the nation as something that will forever be remembered with pride and gratitude. The AN-32 cargo plane is a tactical transport aircraft from the Soviet era that has long been an integral part of the IAF’s fleet.
The IAF acknowledged the accident and promptly initiated an investigation to determine the cause.
Officials have appealed to the public to refrain from speculation while the investigation is ongoing.
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