Two pilots were killed as a Su-30 MKI fighter jet of the Indian air force (IAF) crashed in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district on Thursday. The aircraft had lost radar contact shortly after taking off from Jorhat on Thursday evening, reported Indian media on Friday.
Two Indian air force (IAF) pilots - Squadron Leader Anuj and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar - were killed after a Su-30MKI fighter jet crashed in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district during a training mission.
Confirming the deaths, the IAF said both officers sustained fatal injuries in the crash. “The IAF acknowledges the loss of Sqn Ldr Anuj and Flt Lt Purvesh Duragkar, who sustained fatal injuries in the Su-30 crash. All personnel of the IAF express sincere condolences and stand firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief,” the Indian air force said in a statement on Friday.
“The Su-30MKI which was on a training mission, crashed in the area of Karbi Anglong, Assam, approx 60 km from Jorhat. Search operations were under way," the IAF said in a brief statement.
Earlier, officials said the aircraft went missing shortly after taking off from the Jorhat airbase.
It was reported that the communication with the Russian-origin aircraft was lost at 7:42 pm. “An IAF Su-30 MKI is reported overdue. The aircraft had taken off from Jorhat, Assam and was last in contact at 7.42 pm. Further details are being ascertained. Search and Rescue mission has been initiated," IAF had said.
Su-30MKI is a two-seater multirole long-range fighter jet developed by Russian aircraft manufacturer Sukhoi. It is now built under licence by HAL for the Indian air force (IAF).
In a similar incident, a Sukhoi fighter plane earlier in June 2024 crashed in the Nashik district of Maharashtra. Another Sukhoi-30 jet had crashed in January 2023, after taking off from the Gwalior airbase.