Guwahati, India: An Indian Air Force (IAF) Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter aircraft crashed in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district after losing radar contact shortly after takeoff from Jorhat airbase on Thursday evening, triggering an immediate search and rescue operation in the remote hill region.
According to defence officials, the twin-engine multirole fighter jet was on a routine training mission when it lost communication with ground control at approximately 7:42 pm on March 5. The aircraft had taken off minutes earlier from the Jorhat Air Force Station in eastern Assam.
The Indian Air Force confirmed that the aircraft was reported overdue after radar contact was lost, prompting authorities to mobilise all available resources to locate the jet and its crew. “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. A search and rescue mission has been initiated,” the force said in a statement.
Local residents in parts of Karbi Anglong district, particularly near the Nilip area, reported hearing a loud explosion-like sound around the time the aircraft went off radar. Officials later confirmed that the jet had crashed in a remote hilly area roughly 60 kilometres from the Jorhat base, making access for rescue teams difficult due to dense forests and rugged terrain.
Search and rescue teams from the IAF, along with local authorities and security forces, were deployed to the suspected crash site to locate the aircraft and assess the situation. The operation continued through the night as teams worked to reach the remote location.
IAF confirmed that both pilots aboard the aircraft Squadron Leader Anuj and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar were killed in the crash. The Indian Air Force expressed condolences to the families of the officers and stated that it stands with them during the time of loss.
The Sukhoi Su-30MKI is a twin-seat, long-range multirole fighter aircraft developed by Russia’s Sukhoi and produced in India under licence by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The aircraft forms a critical component of the Indian Air Force’s frontline combat fleet, with more than 260 jets currently in service.
