IAF confirms death of two pilots in Sukhoi Su-30 crash in Assam, offers condolences

IAF acknowledges the loss of Sqn Ldr Anuj and Flt Lt Purvesh Duragkar, who sustained fatal injuries in the Su-30 crash.

The Indian Air Force pn Friday acknowledged the loss of Sqn Ldr Anuj and Flt Lt Purvesh Duragkar, who sustained fatal injuries in the Su-30 fighter jet crash.

"All personnel of the IAF express sincere condolences and stand firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief: Indian Air Force," read the IAF statement.

A Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet of the Indian Air Force (IAF), which was on a training mission, crashed in Assam's Karbi Anglong district on Thursday night.

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: Indian Air Force pic.twitter.com/PODgDwPprS

— ANI (@ANI) March 6, 2026

"The Su-30MKI which was on a training mission, crashed in the area of Karbi Anglong, Assam, approx 60 km from Jorhat," said IAF.

Earlier, the IAF said that the aircraft had lost radar contact at around 7.42 pm after taking off from Jorhat in Assam.

"An IAF Su-30 MKI is reported overdue. The aircraft had taken off from Jorhat, Assam and was last in contact at 7.42 pm. Further details are being ascertained. Search and Rescue mission has been initiated," said IAF.

The crash site is roughly 60 km from Jorhat. A 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."

The Su-30MKI is a two-seater fighter jet developed by Russian aircraft manufacturer Sukhoi. The IAF has a fleet of over 200 Su-30MKIs. It is now built under licence by HAL for the IAF. The aircraft was first inducted into the IAF in 1997.

In a similar incident, a Sukhoi fighter plane earlier in June 2024 crashed in the Nashik district of Maharashtra. Another Sukhoi-30 jet had crashed in January 2023, after taking off from the Gwalior airbase.