A Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district during a routine training sortie on the evening of March 5, 2026, resulting in the deaths of both pilots on board.
According to reports, the aircraft had taken off from Jorhat Air Force Station (Rowriah AFS) and lost radar contact around 7:42 PM IST while flying over a hilly and forested region in Karbi Anglong, approximately 60 km from Jorhat. Local residents reported hearing a loud explosion before debris from the aircraft was discovered in the area.
Search and rescue teams from the IAF, along with local police and security forces, were immediately deployed after the jet was reported overdue. The wreckage was later located near villages in the Nilip block region, including areas around Rangkhelan and Chokihola.
The Indian Air Force confirmed on March 6 that both pilots onboard the aircraft sustained fatal injuries in the crash and were unable to eject.
The pilots have been identified as:
- Squadron Leader Anuj
- Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar
In a statement shared on social media platform X, the IAF said it “acknowledges the loss of Sqn Ldr Anuj and Flt Lt Purvesh Duragkar, who sustained fatal injuries in the Su-30 crash,” adding that the force stands with the bereaved families during this difficult time.
The Su-30MKI is a frontline multirole fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force, with the service operating around 260 aircraft of the type. While the aircraft has experienced incidents in the past, including crashes in Assam in 2015 and 2019, those accidents involved successful pilot ejections.
A Court of Inquiry has been ordered to determine the cause of the crash. Investigators are expected to examine possible technical issues, operational factors and environmental conditions that may have contributed to the accident.