Two pilots of the Indian Air Force were killed after a Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet crashed in Karbi Anglong district of Assam late Thursday night during a routine training mission.
The Air Force confirmed that the deceased pilots were Squadron Leader Anuj and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, the IAF expressed grief over the loss of the two officers.
“All personnel of the IAF express sincere condolences and stand firmly with the bereaved families in this time of grief,” the statement read.
Aircraft Lost Contact Shortly After Take-Off
According to officials, the fighter aircraft was on a training sortie when it lost communication shortly after taking off from the Jorhat Airbase in Assam.
Authorities said contact with the aircraft was lost at 7:42 pm, triggering an immediate search operation. The wreckage of the aircraft was later located in Karbi Anglong, around 60 kilometres from Jorhat.
About the Sukhoi Su-30MKI Fighter Jet
The Sukhoi Su-30MKI is a twin-seat, long-range multirole fighter jet developed by Russian aircraft manufacturer Sukhoi.
In India, the aircraft is produced under licence by the state-run aerospace company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the Indian Air Force.
The fighter jet was first inducted into the IAF in 1997 and has since become one of the backbone aircraft of India’s combat fleet.
At present, the Indian Air Force operates more than 260 Su-30MKI aircraft, making it one of the largest fleets of this fighter jet anywhere in the world.