2 IAF pilots killed in Assam Sukhoi crash, nation mourns loss

GUWAHATI: The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Friday confirmed that the Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jet that crashed during a training mission in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district on Thursday evening proved fatal, claiming the lives of Squadron Leader Anuj of Gurugram and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar hailing From Nagpur.

The fighter jet, which had taken off from Jorhat air force station at around 6:45pm, about 60 km east of the crash site, lost contact with ground control at 7.42 pm, prompting immediate search and rescue mission.




At 9.34pm on Thursday, the IAF posted on X that a Su-30MKI fighter jet was reported overdue. In IAF parlance, an aircraft is termed “overdue” if it fails to arrive at its destination or does not report within 30 minutes of its estimated time of arrival or last known position. Such a situation automatically triggers search and rescue (SAR) procedures, mobilising ground and aerial teams to locate the missing aircraft.

“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,” the IAF said in a post on X.

This was the second fatal Sukhoi 30MKI crash in the northeast in eight years, following the 2017 tragedy in Arunachal Pradesh in which both pilots lost their lives. There were two more Sukhoi 30MKI crashes in Assam — in 2015 and 2019 — where both pilots managed to eject safely.

Karbi Anglong district commissioner Aranyak Saikia told TOI that the fighter jet “crashed on a remotely located and uninhabited hill north of the district headquarters, Diphu.”

The crash occurred near Rongkhelan village under Nilip block, where local residents reported hearing a loud explosion echoing through the hills.

“Around 7.45pm, we received the first information from villagers about some incident. Police and villagers located the crash spot last night. We then contacted the IAF, and their teams arrived and began the SAR operation. The IAF specialised teams are now on the ground doing their work,” Saikia added.

Describing the terrain, the DC noted: “The hill is extremely remote. It takes about three hours to trek from the nearest road head at Chowkihola, and the location itself is nearly two and a half hours’ drive from Diphu.”

A police personnel who was among the first to reach the crash site on Thursday night said they saw the jet “engulfed in flames as it hurtled down towards the hill before exploding.” He added, “When we reached the location, debris was scattered across a large area.”

Defence minister Rajnath Singh expressed deep sorrow over the loss of the two IAF pilots. “Their courage and service to the nation will always be remembered with pride and gratitude. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. The nation stands firmly with them in this hour of grief,” he wrote on X.

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday condoled the death of two pilots, calling it a moment of “immense grief and loss.”

The CM’s Office posted on X, “Expressing profound grief, Hon’ble CM extends his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, stating that the entire nation stands with them in this moment of immense grief and loss.”