Two pilots die in Air Force crash in Assam

Two pilots of the Indian Air Force (IAF) were killed in a crash of a Su-30 MKI multi-role fighter jet in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district.The IAF confirmed on Friday the deaths of Squadron Leader Anuj and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar, a day after the aircraft went missing. The jet was on a training sortie and disappeared from radar shortly after taking off from Jorhat airbase on Thursday.The IAF headquarters ordered a court of inquiry into the crash.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said he is “deeply saddened” by the deaths of Squadron Leader Anuj and Flight Lieutenant Duragkar in the “tragic Su-30 crash”.“Their courage and service to the nation will always be remembered with pride and gratitude,” he posted on X.

“My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. The nation stands firmly with them in this hour of grief,” he added.The Su-30MKI is a two-seater multirole long-range fighter jet developed by Russian aircraft manufacturer Sukhoi. It is now built under licence by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) for the IAF.

The IAF operates a fleet of over 260 Su-30MKI jets. The multi-role aircraft has been in service with the IAF for over two decades and nearly 10 Su-30MKIs have been lost so far.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed grief over the deaths of the two pilots and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families.