Navigational error in bad weather led to AN-32 crash in Arunachal Pradesh: IAF court of inquiry

GUWAHATI: An Indian Air Force (IAF) court of inquiry has found that the crash of its AN-32 aircraft in Arunachal Pradesh on June 3, which killed all on board - eight crew members and five passengers -, was because the aircraft entered the wrong valley due to navigational error in bad weather and the pilots were unable to come out of it safely.
The Lok Sabha Standing Committee on Defence, in its report submitted to the Speaker last Friday, stated that when it wanted to know about the court of inquiry during the examination of demands for grants of Air Force, it was informed that the findings of the court of inquiry was completed and the reasons for the accident are "aircraft entered in the wrong valley due to navigational error in bad weather" and "the crew were unable to fly the aircraft safely out of the blind valley due to poor visibility and clouding."
The committee in its report stated that "Obsolescence is also a critical issue concerning safety of pilots and aircraft".
IAF procured AN-32s built in Ukraine from the former USSR in 1980s. India and Ukraine have contract for upgrading the IAF's AN-32 before the end of their service life, which is 25 years. The ill-fated aircraft was not among the upgraded AN-32s.
The committee added, "During the study visit of the Committee to Northeastern Command from November 4-9, 2019. it was brought to their notice that majority of the aircraft available with the IAF are getting old. This also leads to accidents and pilots are lost. The Committee observed that proper training to aircrew is of utmost importance."
The aircraft took off from Jorhat base in Assam at 12.25pm for Mechuka Advanced Landing Ground in West Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh bordering China but lost contact with ground agencies at 1pm. A search and rescue operation was launched immediately. The wreckage was located in a remote location place near Lipo village in Arunachal Pradesh. The bodies and remains of the 13 men were recovered on June 19.
The officers on board were Wing Commander GM Charles, Squadron Leader H Vinod, Flight Lieutenants Mohit Garg, Sumit Mohanty, Ashish Tanwar and Rajesh Thapa. The other ranks were Warrant Officer KK Mishra, Sergeant Anoop, Corporal Sharin, airmen Pankaj Sangwan and SK Singh and non-combatants Rajesh Kumar and Putali.