Two pilots were killed after an Indian Air Force (IAF) Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet crashed shortly after taking off from the Jorhat airbase in the northeastern state of Assam on Wednesday evening. The force confirmed the incident today (6 March).
The deceased pilots were identified as Squadron Leader Anuj and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar, according to a post by the IAF on X earlier this morning.
"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," it said.
According to the IAF, the Russian-origin aircraft lost contact shortly after takeoff and was last in communication at 7:42pm.
The jet later crashed in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district, around 60 kilometres from Jorhat.
The Su-30MKI is a two-seat, multirole long-range fighter aircraft developed by Russian manufacturer Sukhoi and produced under licence in India by the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the IAF.
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