A transport plane crashed in a ball of flames while landing at an airbase, killing five personnel in a tragic accident captured on CCTV.
The Antonov AN-32, operated by 43 Squadron of the Indian Air Force, was taking part in a routine training sortie when tragedy struck.
The military aircraft touched down normally before drifting left during the landing roll.
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It then veered off the runway, overturned on the grass and erupted in a fireball.
Nearby residents reported hearing a loud noise followed by thick black smoke rising from the base.
Senior officials rushed to the scene as the airbase was secured following the crash.
Five Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel were killed in the crash, as reported by Need To Know.
They have been identified as Squadron Leader Prashant Singh, Flight Lieutenant Shubham Kumar, Sergeant Jitendra Sharma, Agniveervayu Khemaram Kumawat and Agniveervayu Danish Alam.
Miraculously, the aircraft’s co-pilot survived the high-impact collision, and is currently receiving medical treatment for serious injuries.
The incident took place at Rowriah Airbase in Assam, India, on Saturday morning (13 Jun).
In an official statement, the IAF expressed deep regret at the loss of five personnel and offered condolences to the bereaved families.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh paid tribute to the fallen air warriors, describing their courage and service to the nation as something that will always be remembered with pride and gratitude.
The AN-32 cargo plane is a Soviet-era tactical transport aircraft that has long formed a key part of the IAF’s fleet.
The IAF confirmed the accident and immediately launched an investigation to establish the cause.
Officials urged the public to avoid speculation while the investigation continues.
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