Five people were killed when an Indian Air Force transport aircraft crashed in Assam, according to officials. The AN-32 plane lost contact with 29 people on board, prompting a massive search operation by the air force, navy, and coast guard.
Crash Details
The aircraft went down in a remote area of Assam, a northeastern state in India. Rescue teams are working to locate survivors and recover wreckage. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
This incident adds to a history of accidents involving the AN-32, a Soviet-era twin-engine transport plane used by the Indian Air Force for decades. In 2019, an AN-32 with 13 people on board crashed in Arunachal Pradesh, with no survivors.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Indian defense officials have launched a coordinated search involving aircraft, naval vessels, and ground teams. The challenging terrain and weather conditions are hampering operations. Families of the crew and passengers are being notified.
The Indian Air Force has grounded all AN-32 aircraft pending a safety review. This crash raises questions about the aging fleet's reliability and the need for modernization.
