NEW DELHI: Two Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots lost their lives after a Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet crashed during a training mission in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on Friday.
According to the Indian Air Force, the twin-seat fighter aircraft went down in the Karbi Anglong district, roughly 60 kilometres from the Jorhat airbase from where it had taken off earlier in the evening.
The aircraft reportedly lost communication with air traffic control at approximately 7:42 pm before disappearing from radar, according to the Reuters.
The IAF later confirmed that the pilots killed in the crash were Squadron Leader Anuj and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar.
In a statement posted on X, the air force expressed condolences to the families of the deceased officers and said the entire force stands with them during this difficult time.
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.@DefenceMinIndia@SpokespersonMoD… pic.twitter.com/zUtfUJ2ewr
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) March 6, 2026
Local residents reported hearing a loud explosion in the hills shortly after the aircraft went missing. Witnesses said they saw flames rising from the crash site, suggesting the aircraft caught fire upon impact.
The jet reportedly crashed in a remote and hilly area, which complicated immediate access to the site.
India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said he was “deeply saddened” by the tragic incident and extended his sympathies to the families of the two pilots.
The Sukhoi Su-30MKI is a long-range, multi-role fighter aircraft developed by Russian aerospace manufacturer Sukhoi.
It is manufactured in India under licence by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and forms the backbone of the Indian Air Force’s combat fleet.
The aircraft was first inducted into the IAF in 1997, and the force currently operates more than 260 Su-30MKI jets.
The crash adds to a series of similar incidents involving the aircraft in recent years. In June 2024, another Su-30 fighter jet crashed in Nashik in the western state of Maharashtra.
Earlier, in January 2023, a Su-30 aircraft went down shortly after takeoff from the Gwalior airbase in Madhya Pradesh.
Authorities are expected to launch an investigation to determine the cause of the latest crash.
