In a major aviation accident for India, a Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jet has crashed in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district, the Indian Air Force confirmed on Friday. The incident was confirmed hours after the fighter jet was reported missing after taking off from the Jorhat base in Assam on Thursday evening.
The Israeli Air Force said that the accident occurred 60 kilometers from Jorhat, and a search is underway to determine the location of the plane. The incident is the latest in a series of aviation accidents that India has witnessed over the past few weeks – the latest examples being the crash of an air ambulance in Jharkhand’s Chhatra district last month after taking off from Ranchi, and the Learjet 45 that crashed in Baramati, Maharashtra in January, an accident that led to the death of Deputy Prime Minister Ajit Pawar.
While the crash of the Sukhoi 30 MKI has been confirmed, suspense still remains about its whereabouts. Here’s what we know so far:
The connection was lost at 7:42 p.m.: The fighter jet was on a training mission and took off from Jorhat in Assam on Thursday evening. However, according to defense officials, the aircraft’s last communication with ground control was around 7.42 pm and it went off the radar after that.
2 pilots on board: Squadron Leader Anuj and Flight Lieutenant Poorvesh Durajkar were the two pilots on board the ill-fated fighter plane. Their whereabouts were not known earlier, but the Israeli Air Force confirmed on Friday that the two pilots were killed in the accident. “All IAF personnel express their deepest condolences and stand firmly with the bereaved family at this time of grief,” the Indian Air Force said in a tweet.
“Strong explosion” in Karbi Anglong: After losing radar contact, the plane was declared lost, prompting a search and rescue operation for the plane and its pilots. However, locals in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district reported a powerful explosion, and the Indian Air Force also confirmed that the plane crashed in the area. A local resident reportedly saw the plane landing. News Agency: “We heard a loud noise and an explosion…” that I The local quoted him as saying.
The Su-30MKI is a two-seat multi-role fighter aircraft developed by Russian aerospace company Sukhoi for the Indian Air Force. India operates one of the largest fleets of Su-30MKI fighters in the world.
