The aircraft went down near the city of Jorhat during what the IAF described as a routine sortie.
"The Indian Air Force deeply regrets the loss of five personnel in the An-32 accident at Jorhat," the air force said in a statement, expressing condolences to the families of those killed.
The military did not immediately disclose the total number of people on board or provide details regarding survivors. However, an air force official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that the aircraft s co-pilot survived the crash.
Television footage aired by Indian broadcaster NDTV showed thick black smoke rising from the crash site, with debris scattered across the area and the aircraft apparently broken into multiple pieces.
According to the IAF, the twin-engine turboprop aircraft crashed while approaching the runway for landing. The force announced that a formal court of inquiry had been ordered to determine the cause of the accident.
"The Indian Air Force extends its deepest condolences to the bereaved families and stands firmly with them in this hour of grief," the statement added.
The An-32 is a military transport aircraft designed for operations in extreme weather and high-altitude environments. The Indian Air Force operates around 100 of the aircraft for logistics missions, troop transport, and humanitarian relief operations, particularly in remote mountainous regions.
The crash is the latest in a series of accidents involving the ageing fleet. In 2019, another An-32 aircraft crashed in Arunachal Pradesh near the border with China, killing all 13 people on board.
Authorities are expected to release further details once the investigation into Saturday s crash progresses.
