IAF pilot Sqn Ldr Anuj Vashisht killed in Su-30 crash was set to tie the knot soon

Squadron Leader Anuj Vashisht (Courtesy: X | @IAF_MCC)

Preparations for Squadron Leader Anuj Vashisht's wedding were underway at his home in Gurugram when a phone call on Friday afternoon changed everything. An Indian Air Force (IAF) official informed the family that Anuj was killed in Su-30 MKI crash in Assam's Karbi Anglong district. This turned the atmosphere of joy into one of deep mourning.

Su-30 MKI, which was on a training sortie, disappeared from the radar shortly after taking off from Jorhat airbase in Assam on Thursday. The IAF confirmed the deaths of Anuj Vashisht and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar on Friday, a day after the Russian-origin aircraft went missing.

Anuj, who hailed from Bhiwani district of Haryana, is survived by his father Subedar (retd) Anand Prakash, his mother Anita Devi, and a younger brother. The mother is reportedly unaware of her son's death.

According to Chandra Prakash (a relative of the family), Anita Devi has been told that her son was injured in the jet crash. However, it is only a matter of time before she finds out. He said that soon after receiving the tragic news, some family members left for Assam.

Anuj joined the IAF soon after completely his early education. "Anuj completed his early education from Kendriya Vidyalaya in Sector 14, Gurugram. Subsequently, he joined the Indian Air Force. His family was preparing for his wedding," Prakash told news agency PTI.

As per the report, Anuj's fiancé is also a pilot.

The IAF has ordered a court of inquiry into the crash. According to officials, communication with the aircraft was lost at 7:42 pm on Thursday. Around 1 am on Friday, the IAF confirmed that the Su-30MKI, which had gone off radar on Thursday, had crashed.

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. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. The nation stands firmly with them in this hour of grief," he said.

Union minister Rao Inderjit Singh and Haryana's Military and Paramilitary Welfare Minister Rao Narbir Singh condoled the loss of lives in the crash.

In their condolence messages, they said the nation will never forget the sacrifice of its brave sons. "Vashisht demonstrated indomitable courage, dedication and patriotism by sacrificing his life in the service of the nation. His supreme sacrifice will forever inspire the nation," they said.

Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar had taken part in Operation Sindoor, which India launched to target terror bases in Pakistan following last year’s Pahalgam attack.