A tragic accident has struck the Indian Air Force as a Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet crashed during a routine training mission in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district on Thursday evening, claiming the lives of both pilots on board.
The aircraft took off from the Jorhat airbase before ground control lost all communication at approximately 7:42 PM. Shortly after, locals in a remote area near the Nilip block reported hearing a loud explosion echoing through the dense, hilly terrain of Karbi Anglong — nearly 60 kilometres from the Jorhat base.
Search and rescue teams were immediately deployed, coordinating with local authorities to locate the wreckage in the heavily forested and difficult terrain. The aircraft was subsequently found, confirming the worst.
The Indian Air Force officially confirmed the loss of Squadron Leader Anuj and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar, both of whom sustained fatal injuries in the crash. In a solemn statement, the IAF expressed its deepest condolences, saying all personnel stand firmly with the bereaved families in their time of grief.
The Su-30MKI is a twin-engine, two-seater, 4.5-generation multirole fighter jet developed by Russia’s Sukhoi and built under licence in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Forming the backbone of India’s air combat capability, the IAF currently operates a fleet of over 260 Su-30MKI jets — one of the largest such fleets in the world.
This crash marks the first confirmed Su-30MKI loss of 2026, though the aircraft has been involved in several incidents since its induction in the early 2000s. An investigation has been ordered to determine the cause of the accident.
The nation mourns the sacrifice of two of its finest officers who gave their lives in service to the country.
