Two IAF pilots killed as Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet crashes in Assam

Two Indian Air Force pilots were killed after a Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet crashed in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district during a routine training mission, the Indian Air Force confirmed on March 6.

The aircraft had taken off from the Jorhat airbase on March 5 evening before losing radar contact shortly after departure.

In an official statement, the IAF identified the pilots who lost their lives as Squadron Leader Anuj and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar.

Earlier in the day, the Air Force confirmed that the fighter jet had gone down in a hilly area of Karbi Anglong, located around 60 kilometres from the Jorhat airbase.

“The Su-30MKI, which was on a training mission crashed in the area of Karbi Anglong, approx 60 km from Jorhat. Search operations are underway,” the IAF said.

According to officials, the aircraft’s last communication with ground control was recorded at 7.42 pm on March 5, shortly before contact was lost.

The Sukhoi Su-30MKI, inducted into the Indian Air Force in the early 2000s, remains one of India’s most advanced frontline combat aircraft. The IAF currently operates a fleet of more than 200 Su-30MKI fighter jets, which form the backbone of the country’s air superiority capability.