An IAF An-32 transporter has crashed in the Eastern sector. It has yet to be confirmed if the aircraft crashed in Assam or Arunachal Pradesh. Initial reports indicate that the aircraft departed Air Force Station Jorhat today at 1PM and landed at a newly refurbished advanced landing ground (ALG) in Arunachal Pradesh. After departing the ALG a short while later, the aircraft went missing and later crashed. As of 21.30 today, the IAF has still designated the aircraft as missing, though sources in Shillong and Tezpur have confirmed that the aircraft has gone down. A court of inquiry has been ordered. Sources say the aircraft was piloted by two Wing Commanders, and was carrying 12 other ranks, including some Assam Rifles troops. The An-32 was from one of the Jorhat-based transport squadrons (No.43 or No.48).
Heartfelt condolences to the families of those who went down with the aircraft.
An-32 crashes are most tragic. Brings back the memory of crash at Palam a few years ago. Lost 22 IAF officers then. Lets hope for the best.
IAF Plane crashes!! – no names of pilots?
no names of passengers?
Hearing through sources?
Come on – when hundreds of international passengers are involved – name lists show up in minutes & for our warriors – its nameless & Newsless?
10 hours into it and all we are interested in showing in cricket?
someone should get their head out of their a**!!
Shame!
Indeed a tragic event.
May those Officers and Soldiers rest in peace.
ask god only he knows why he did like that
Could it have crossed into Chinese Territory ?? I heard it was ddue to bad weather. Either way the landing platforms at Arunachal are not developed. I hav heard there are not even proper signals to guide these planes at night in those remote areas. Till now it was based on purely pilot skills that they carried out these transport missions.
rediff has a account on this today (http://news.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/oct/27/slide-show-1-here-is-why-chinese-blogs-must-be-monitored.htm) where it reports that the an-32 that crashed was actually the 1st Phalcon AWACS India bought. Sounds ridiculous !! but is there any more info on the AN-32 crash ?