India has lost two Indian Air Force fighter pilots after a Su-30MKI fighter aircraft crashed during a training mission in Assam on Thursday evening. The aircraft had taken off from the airbase in Jorhat and was reported overdue after it lost contact with ground control.
According to initial reports, the Su-30MKI fighter jet was last in contact with the Air Force at around 7:42 PM. Soon after communication was lost, authorities initiated emergency protocols and launched a search and rescue operation in the surrounding region.
The aircraft later crashed in the hilly area of Karbi Anglong, located approximately 60 kilometers from Jorhat. Rescue teams and security personnel were deployed to the crash site to locate the aircraft and its crew.
The Indian Air Force later confirmed that the crash resulted in the tragic loss of two fighter pilots — Squadron Leader Anuj and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar — who sustained fatal injuries in the accident.
In an official statement, the Indian Air Force acknowledged the loss of the two brave officers and expressed deep condolences to their families. “All personnel of the IAF express sincere condolences and stand firmly with the bereaved families in this time of grief,” the statement said.
The Su-30MKI aircraft involved in the accident was on a routine training mission at the time of the crash. Authorities have initiated an investigation to determine the cause of the accident, while search and recovery operations continue in the crash area.
