A tragic Indian Air Force AN-32 transport aircraft crash at Air Force Station Jorhat in Assam has claimed the lives of five personnel, including a Squadron Leader and a Flight Lieutenant. While the IAF has ordered a Court of Inquiry, the disaster highlights the ongoing risks of operating a Soviet-era fleet inducted in the 1980s. With over 19 major incidents since 1984 including the infamous 2016 deep-sea disappearance—this latest crash triggers intense scrutiny from Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and defense experts over the urgent need to fast-track the modernization of India’s aging military transport inventory.