INDIA – Two Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots were killed when a Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet crashed in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district during a training mission on Thursday night.
The aircraft had taken off from Jorhat airbase but lost communication shortly afterward. The fighter jet crashed in a remote hilly area about 60 kilometers from the base.
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), the IAF confirmed the deaths of Squadron Leader Anuj and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar. “All personnel of the IAF express sincere condolences, and stand firmly with the bereaved family,” the Air Force said.
The fighter jet was on a routine training mission when contact was lost at approximately 7:42 pm. Earlier reports indicated the aircraft had suddenly lost altitude before disappearing from radar.
Local residents reported hearing a loud explosion and seeing a large ball of fire near a nearby hill. Villagers helped search teams locate the crash site using torches and lights. One resident told ANI news, “We heard a loud noise and an explosion. Helicopters and police are searching, but no trace of the pilots has been found yet.”
India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed grief over the tragedy. “Their courage and service to the nation will always be remembered with pride and gratitude,” he wrote on X. He added that the nation stands with the families of the deceased pilots.
The Sukhoi Su-30MKI is a two-seater, multirole, long-range fighter jet developed by Russia’s Sukhoi and produced under licence by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force. First inducted in 1997, the IAF currently operates over 260 Su-30MKI aircraft.
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This accident adds to a series of Su-30 crashes in recent years. Previous incidents include a crash in Nashik district, Maharashtra in June 2024, and another in Gwalior in January 2023. Officials continue investigating the cause of the latest crash.
