Two Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots – Squadron Leader Anuj and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar – were killed after a Su-30MKI fighter jet crashed in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district during a training mission.
“IAF acknowledges the loss of Sqn Ldr Anuj and Flt Lt Purvesh Duragkar, who sustained fatal injuries in the Su-30 crash. All personnel of the IAF express sincere condolences, and stand firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief”, wrote IAF on X.
The Su-30 MKI was on a training mission and had gone missing shortly after taking off from the Jorhat airbase, about 60 km from where it crashed. Communication with the Russian-origin aircraft was lost at 7:42 pm, officials had said. It reportedly crashed in a remote hilly area. Residents said they heard a loud explosion from a hill. They said they also noticed a ball of fire.
Were Sukhoi Su-30 MKI Fighter Jets Responsible for Crash?
The Su-30 MKI is a two-seater, long-range fighter jet developed by Russian aircraft manufacturer Sukhoi. It is now built under licence by state-run aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the IAF.
The Sukhoi-30MKI aircraft had taken off from the Jorhat airbase on Thursday evening before losing contact with ground control. Defence officials earlier said communication with the Russian-origin fighter jet was lost at around 7.42 pm.
The aircraft subsequently crashed in Karbi Anglong district, about 60 kilometres from Jorhat. Earlier reports had said the jet went missing shortly after take-off, prompting search and rescue operations to locate the aircraft and its two pilots. Further investigations are underway.
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