Two pilots of the Indian Air Force (IAF), Squadron Leader Anuj and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar, died after the Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter aircraft crashed in the Karbi Anglong district of Assam while on a training mission.

The death of the two IAF personnel was confirmed by the IAF, which said that the two pilots died due to fatal injuries caused by the aircraft crash.

Also Read | Kavinder Gupta resigns as Ladakh Lieutenant Governor nine months after assuming office

In a statement, the Indian Air Force said, "The 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."

Contact lost

Sukhoi-30MKI aircraft had taken off from the Jorhat airbase on Thursday evening before losing contact with the ground control. Officials had earlier stated that the Sukhoi-30MKI had lost contact with the ground control around 7.42 pm.

"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 aircraft subsequently crashed in the Karbi Anglong district, about 60 kilometre away from the city of Jorhat. Initial reports indicated that the jet went missing shortly after takeoff, and search and rescue operations were initiated to locate the aircraft and its two pilots.

Also Read | India breaks silence on Khamenei's killing, Vikram Misri signs condolence book at Iranian Embassy

It is reported that the sound of a loud explosion was heard by residents of the area near a remote hill location close to the Nilip block of the Karbi Anglong district around 7 pm on Thursday, and some unverified images of the location of the alleged crash were also posted on social media.

'We heard a loud noise...'

Speaking to ANI, a local revealed that he saw the aircraft coming down in the evening yesterday. "We heard a loud noise and an explosion... The police from the Chowki Wala police station are here. They are searching for him from the helicopter," he added.

The Su-30MKI is a two-seater multirole long-range fighter aircraft designed by the Sukhoi aircraft company of Russia and manufactured under licence by the Indian company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the IAF.

The Indian Air Force has more than 260 Su-30MKI aircraft in service. Previous incidents involving the aircraft include one in Nashik district in the state of Maharashtra in June 2024 and one in January 2023 after taking off from the Gwalior airbase.