In a concerning incident for the Indian Air Force (IAF), a Russian-made Antonov AN-32 transport aircraft was involved in a serious accident at Bagdogra airport in north Bengal on Friday. The aircraft, part of a long-serving fleet of Soviet-era transporters, crash-landed near the airport, highlighting the mounting challenges of maintaining an ageing fleet.
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The AN-32 Incident at Bagdogra
According to official reports, the AN-32 crash occurred shortly after a Jaguar fighter jet went down in Haryana’s Panchkula district. The two accidents happened within hours of each other.
The crash occurred within 10 km of the Bagdogra airport in W.Bengal. The plane was on its descent/approach when it crashed due to ‘unknown reasons‘. The aircraft was destroyed even when the crew remained safe.
An official statement by the IAF noted, “An accident involving an AN-32 transport aircraft at Bagdogra airport has come to light today. The aircraft is being recovered from the site.”
Challenges Of Maintaining A Legacy Aircraft Fleet
The Antonov AN-32 has been in service with the Indian Air Force since 1984, making it one of the older aircraft in the fleet. Designed and built by the Antonov Design Bureau in Ukraine during the Soviet era, the AN-32 was one of the first transport aircraft to be inducted into the IAF. Over time, however, this ageing platform has been plagued by issues such as spare parts shortages and increasing difficulties in maintenance and repairs. The operational serviceability of these has reportedly dipped to as low as 50-60%.
These challenges are not new. In the past, these have led to multiple incidents involving AN-32s. Earlier mishaps include a crash over the Bay of Bengal in 2016, which resulted in tragic casualties, and another in Arunachal Pradesh in 2019 that claimed the lives of 13 service personnel.
Response and Recovery Efforts
Local authorities and IAF personnel rushed to the scene. The wreckage, spread across an area near the airport, is being carefully recovered and secured. IAF confirmed that the crew is safe and said that an inquiry has been launched. The investigation is expected to find out whether the crash was the result of an isolated technical malfunction or symptomatic of broader issues affecting the legacy fleet.
Time To Ground The Antonov AN-32?
The Antonov AN-32 plays a crucial role in the IAF’s logistics and transport operations, supporting a range of missions from routine cargo transport to strategic deployments. However, the growing list of maintenance challenges and the frequency of incidents have raised concerns among defence analysts and IAF veterans.
This incident serves as a stark reminder that the IAF must accelerate efforts to modernize its fleet and ageing platforms such as the AN-32 should be grounded. Plans are already underway to phase out older aircraft and invest in newer platforms.
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