An Israeli-made unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operated by the Indian Navy has crashed in Dharampur, Gujarat, adding to growing concerns over the reliability of India’s military aviation assets.
The latest incident comes amid a series of crashes involving Indian Air Force aircraft, with critics pointing to recurring accidents as a sign of persistent operational and maintenance challenges.
Another Embarrassment for India
— P Connect (@ConnectingPak) July 9, 2026
An Israeli-made UAV drone operated by the Indian Navy has crashed in Dharampur, Gujarat. Indian Air Force jet crashes are routine, and now even Indian drones are crashing. pic.twitter.com/GNsIEDeBjC
Earlier, another Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft crashed at Roureah Air Force Station in Assam’s Jorhat district, with reports saying that the pilot was killed in the accident.
According to Indian media, the aircraft involved was an AN-32 transport plane that went down while attempting to land at the strategically important airbase in upper Assam. Information regarding other crew members aboard the aircraft was not immediately available.
In a statement, the IAF said a military aircraft crashed during landing at the Jorhat Air Force Station. The aircraft was identified as an AN-32 cargo plane used for transporting supplies. Rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the site, while investigation efforts were launched to determine the cause of the crash.
Roureah Air Force Station is one of the Indian Air Force’s key installations in the northeastern region and plays a significant role in air operations across Assam and nearby areas.
The cause of the accident remains unknown. The AN-32 fleet has been involved in around 22 crashes in India since 1986, with the most recent incident reported in 2025. Despite its accident record, the aircraft continues to serve as one of the IAF’s primary transport platforms for logistics and operational missions.
The crash came months after an IAF Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jet crashed during a routine training mission in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district, about 60 kilometres from Jorhat Airbase.
In June 2019, an AN-32 transport aircraft crashed in Arunachal Pradesh, killing all 13 military personnel on board. The aircraft had taken off from Jorhat and was en route to Mechuka near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, carrying supplies for troops stationed in the border region.
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