Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren expressed profound grief on Friday, March 6, 2026, following the tragic crash of an Indian Air Force (IAF) Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jet in Assam. The Chief Minister paid tribute to the two pilots who lost their lives in the line of duty, identified as Squadron Leader Anuj and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar, hailing them as “bravehearts” whose ultimate sacrifice for the country would remain etched in the nation’s memory.
The advanced fighter aircraft was on a routine training mission when it encountered a fatal mishap on Thursday evening. According to official reports, the jet had taken off from the Jorhat air base and crashed approximately 60 kilometers away in the dense, hilly terrain of Assam’s Karbi Anglong district. Search operations were concluded early Friday, confirming that both officers on board had succumbed to their injuries.
In a poignant message shared on the social media platform X, Soren stated that he was “deeply pained” by the news and extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased. He emphasized that the state of Jharkhand stands in solidarity with the bereaved families during this time of immense national loss. The Indian Air Force is expected to constitute a Court of Inquiry to investigate the technical or environmental factors that led to the crash.