Two Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots were killed after a Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet crashed in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district during a training mission on Thursday night.
The aircraft had taken off from the Jorhat airbase but lost communication shortly afterward, eventually crashing in a remote hilly area about 60 kilometers away.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, the IAF’s media coordination center confirmed the deaths of Squadron Leader Anuj and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar.
According to the Air Force, both pilots sustained fatal injuries in the crash.
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
“All personnel of the IAF express sincere condolences, and stand firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief,” the Air Force said while sharing pictures of the pilots.
Lost contact shortly after takeoff
The IAF said the Su-30MKI fighter jet was on a routine training mission when it went missing shortly after departing from the Jorhat airbase. Officials reported that communication with the Russian-origin aircraft was lost at around 7:42pm.
The jet later crashed in Karbi Anglong district, roughly 60 kilometers from Jorhat. Earlier reports indicated that the aircraft had lost altitude suddenly before disappearing from radar.
Crash in remote hilly area
Local residents said they heard a loud explosion coming from a nearby hill shortly after the aircraft went missing. Witnesses reported seeing a large ball of fire, suggesting the jet had crashed in the mountainous terrain.
According to news agency ANI, villagers used torches and lights to help search teams locate the crash site.
One local resident told ANI: “We heard a loud noise and an explosion. The police from Chowki Wala police station are here, and they are searching from the helicopter. There is no trace of the pilot yet; nothing has been found so far.”
Defence minister expresses grief
India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said he was deeply saddened by the tragic loss of the two pilots.
“Their courage and service to the nation will always be remembered with pride and gratitude,” Singh wrote in a post on X. He added that the nation stands firmly with the families of the deceased pilots during this difficult time.
About Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet
The Sukhoi Su-30MKI is a two-seater, multirole, long-range fighter jet developed by Russian aircraft manufacturer Sukhoi. The aircraft is now produced under licence by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force.
The jet was first inducted into the IAF in 1997, and the Air Force currently operates a fleet of more than 260 Su-30MKI fighter aircraft.
The latest accident adds to a series of Sukhoi-30 crashes in recent years. A Sukhoi fighter jet crashed in Nashik district of Maharashtra in June 2024, while another Su-30 aircraft crashed in January 2023 after taking off from Gwalior airbase.
