A tragic fighter jet crash in India’s northeastern state of Assam has claimed the lives of two Indian Air Force pilots, according to officials. The incident involved a Sukhoi Su 30MKI fighter jet that was flying a routine training mission when it went down in a remote area.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) confirmed that the aircraft crashed on Friday in the Karbi Anglong district of Assam, about 60 kilometres from the Jorhat airbase. The jet had taken off from the base earlier in the evening but soon lost contact with ground control.
Officials stated that communication with the Russian origin Su 30MKI aircraft was lost at 7:42 pm, shortly after the jet departed from Jorhat airbase. Search teams were immediately deployed to locate the missing aircraft. Later, authorities confirmed that the jet had crashed in a remote hilly region of Karbi Anglong.
The IAF identified the pilots who lost their lives as Squadron Leader Anuj and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar. The air force expressed deep sorrow over the loss and extended condolences to the families of the deceased officers.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, the Indian Air Force said that all personnel stand firmly with the bereaved families during this difficult time. The statement described the crash as a tragic incident during a routine training operation.
Residents living near the crash site reported hearing a loud explosion followed by a large ball of fire rising from a nearby hill. The location of the crash reportedly made rescue and recovery efforts more challenging due to the difficult terrain.
India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also reacted to the incident and said he was deeply saddened by the loss of the two pilots.
The Sukhoi Su 30MKI is one of the most important fighter jets in the Indian Air Force fleet. Developed by Russian manufacturer Sukhoi, the aircraft is produced in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The IAF currently operates more than 260 Su 30MKI jets, which were first inducted into service in 1997.
In recent years, similar fighter jet crashes involving Su 30 aircraft have occurred in Maharashtra in 2024 and Madhya Pradesh in 2023, raising concerns about aviation safety and maintenance.
