5 killed as Indian Air Force plane crashes in Assam

NEW DELHI, June 13 (Reuters): An Indian Air Force (IAF) AN-32 transport aircraft has crashed and caught fire while landing at an airbase in Assam's Jorhat, killing all five personnel on board, NDTV says.
The aircraft went down inside the Jorhat Air Force Station premises around 10am local time during a routine sortie, the Indian broadcaster said citing the IAF.
The air force confirmed the deaths and identified the victims as Squadron Leader Prashant Singh, Flight Lieutenant Shubham Kumar, Sergeant Jitendra Sharma, Agniveervayu Khemaram Kumawat and Agniveervayu Danish Alam.
"An IAF An-32 aircraft met with an accident during a routine sortie [Saturday] at approximately 1000h at Jorhat, Assam. Crash site management and initial enquiries are on at this time. IAF deeply regrets the loss of lives and stands firmly with the bereaved families in this time of grief," it said in a post.
Initial reports said the aircraft went down within the airbase while landing, after which a fire broke out.
Emergency teams were deployed immediately to contain the blaze and secure the area.
The cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained, with an investigation under way.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said authorities were aware of the incident and were awaiting further details.
The Antonov AN-32 is a rugged, twin-engine turboprop military transport aircraft that serves as the workhorse of the Indian Air Force.
First built in the Soviet Union specifically for Indian requirements, the IAF operates a fleet of around 100 of these aircraft. It is designed for extreme environments, capable of operating from high-altitude airfields and in hot tropical climates.
The aircraft can carry up to 7.5 tonnes of cargo, 50 passengers or 42 paratroopers, and is widely used for supply drops in remote regions.