Assam (Gurpreet Singh): A routine training exercise of the Indian Air Force turned tragic after a Su-30MKI fighter aircraft crashed in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district, claiming the lives of two pilots on board. The Air Force confirmed the deaths on Friday after the jet had gone missing a day earlier.
The officers killed in the accident were Squadron Leader Anuj and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar. Both were part of a training sortie that had taken off from the Jorhat airbase on Thursday.
Officials said the fighter aircraft lost contact with radar soon after departure, triggering concern among air traffic controllers. A search operation was launched immediately to locate the missing jet.
After hours of search efforts, teams discovered the wreckage of the aircraft in a forested area of Karbi Anglong district. Authorities later confirmed that both pilots had died in the crash.
The Su-30MKI, a twin-engine multirole fighter aircraft of Russian origin, forms a key part of the Indian Air Force’s combat fleet and is frequently used in operational and training missions.
Following the incident, the Air Force has initiated a Court of Inquiry to establish the circumstances that led to the crash. Investigators will review technical details, maintenance records and flight data to determine the cause of the accident.
The loss of the two officers has deeply affected the defence community, with tributes pouring in for the pilots who were on duty at the time of the mishap. The Air Force is expected to release further details once the investigation progresses.
