NEW DELHI: Five personnel aboard an Indian Air Force (IAF) An-32 aircraft were killed when the aircraft crashed in Jorhat, Assam, on Saturday.
In a post on X, the IAF said that 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.
The IAF also extended its deepest condolences to the bereaved families and stood firmly with them in this hour of grief.
The aircraft met with an accident during a routine sortie at approximately 1000h in Jorhat, the IAF noted.
According to reports, the accident occurred when the aircraft was flying from Arunachal Pradesh to Jorhat.
The IAF has already launched a Court of Inquiry to ascertain the exact cause of the accident.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, noting that 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,” he said in a post on X.
Similarly, N. S. Raja Subramani, Chief of Defence Staff of the IAF, and all personnel of the Indian Defence Forces paid heartfelt homage to the five IAF personnel.
In a post on X, Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff said: “Our deepest condolences to the bereaved families; we stand firmly by your side in this hour of grief.”
