The deaths of at least five Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel on Saturday after an alleged explosion inside an Antonov 32 (AN-32) aircraft in Assam has sparked questions about the aircraft itself, and its past.
The powerful blast took place inside the military cargo aircraft while it had been taxiing after landing at the Rowriah airbase at about 9:30 AM on Saturday, sources told THE WEEK.
Only one officer—the co-pilot of the tragic crash that split the aircraft in two—survived, and is currently battling for his life.
In that regard, here are five other times that the AN-32 presented trouble for the IAF over the past two decades, sometimes leading to lives lost as well:
March 7, 2025
An AN-32 aircraft crash-landed at the Bagdogra Airport in West Bengal, though the crew managed to escape unhurt.
The aircraft had attempted a landing when it overshot the runway and crashed.
June 3, 2019
Barely an hour after it departed from the Jorhat Airport for the Mechuka Airport in Arunanchal Pradesh, an AN-32 military aircraft went missing after all contact was lost with it, sparking fears about the 13 people that had been onboard the aircraft.
More than a week later, the wreckage of the AN-32 was located—along with the remains of its 13 crew members—was located by a Mi-17 helicopter at a steep, wooded area near Lipo, more than 30km away from the Mechuka Airport.
September 20, 2014
An IAF AN-32 aircraft, which was on its way back to the Chandigarh Airport after distributing relief supplies to a flood-hit Jammu and Kashmir, crash-landed at night.
All 11 people onboard miraculously survived, despite the aircraft splitting into three after the crash.
December 15, 2011
An AN-32 military aircraft faced an issue with landing, less than 10km from the Jorhat Airport, which caused it irreversible damage.
However, neither its crew members, nor people on the ground, were hurt or killed.
June 8, 2009
A short while after the IAF's AN-32 aircraft took-off from the Mechuka Airport, it crashed over the Rinchi Hill above the Heyo village in Arunachal Pradesh.
The wreckage of the flight was discovered the very next day, alongside the dead remains of the 13 people onboard—similar to the 2019 crash.
