The mother of Indian Air Force pilot Flight Lieutenant Shubham Kumar, who died in the AN-32 aircraft crash at Assam’s Jorhat Air Force Station, became emotional while recalling her final conversation with her son. She said she never imagined that he would leave home for duty and never return.

Poonam Kumar said her son had called her on the morning before the accident and informed her that he was heading out for a mission. “I spoke to him yesterday morning. He told me he was going on a mission. Later, I received the heartbreaking news that the aircraft had crashed,” she said. Remembering his recent visit home, she shared that Shubham had come to the village on May 5 and left on May 29 to rejoin duty. “I never thought my son would go away forever,” she said.

A wave of grief swept through Bawaria village in Bihar’s Jehanabad district after news of the officer’s death reached residents. Family members, villagers, local leaders and social workers gathered at his home to pay tribute and support the grieving family after his mortal remains were brought back. Flight Lieutenant Shubham Kumar, a resident of Bawaria village in the Hulasganj block, was reportedly the only earning member of his family. Villagers remembered him as a committed Air Force officer who served the nation with pride and dedication.

His mother also revealed that he had returned home earlier following the death of his grandmother. During his stay, discussions regarding his marriage had also begun before tragedy struck. The Indian Air Force on Sunday transported the mortal remains of the personnel killed in the June 13 AN-32 crash in Assam to their hometowns, where final rites were conducted with full military honours.

The transport aircraft had crashed while attempting to land at Jorhat Air Force Station during a routine sortie. The IAF confirmed that five personnel lost their lives in the accident and expressed condolences to their families. The Air Force identified the deceased as Squadron Leader Prashant Singh, Flight Lieutenant Shubham Kumar, Sergeant Jitendra Sharma, Agniveervayu Khemaram Kumawat and Agniveervayu Danish Alam. The IAF said it deeply mourns the loss of the five personnel in the tragic accident.