Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Two pilots were killed after sustaining fatal injuries following the crash of an IAF Su-30MKI jet in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district during a training mission. “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 Indian Air Force said. Earlier, the IAF had stated that the Su-30MKI, which was on a training mission, crashed in the Karbi Anglong area, approximately 60 km from Jorhat. Officials added that the aircraft had lost radar contact after taking off from Jorhat. The Su-30MKI is a two-seater, multirole, long-range fighter jet developed by Russian aircraft manufacturer Sukhoi and is now built under licence by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the IAF. The force operates a fleet of over 260 Su-30MKIs. According to news agency ANI, locals reported hearing a loud explosion and were seen using torches and lights to aid in the search. 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.”
