An Indian Air Force Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jet crashed in a remote hill area of Assam’s Karbi Anglong district during a routine training mission, leading to the tragic death of two pilots. The aircraft had taken off from the Jorhat Air Base but soon lost radar contact before going down in the hills near Inglong Ekopi.
According to officials, the twin-seat fighter jet disappeared from radar around 7:42 pm while performing a sortie. Rescue teams later located the wreckage roughly 60 kilometres from the Jorhat airbase. Residents reported hearing a loud explosion and seeing smoke rising from the hills shortly after the aircraft went missing.
IAF Sukhoi Su-30 Missing: IAF Lost 2 Pilots in Sukhoi Su-30 Crash in Assam
Search teams recovered the bodies of the two pilots from the crash site. The pilots were identified as Squadron Leader Anuj and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar.
The Indian Air Force confirmed their deaths and expressed condolences in an official statement.
“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.”
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.@DefenceMinIndia@SpokespersonMoD… pic.twitter.com/zUtfUJ2ewr
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) March 6, 2026
Who were Sqn Ldr Anuj and Flt Lt Purvesh Duragkar?
Squadron Leader Anuj and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar were experienced fighter pilots serving in the Indian Air Force. They were part of the Su-30MKI squadron stationed at Jorhat Air Base in Assam.
Both officers belonged to the 47 Squadron of the IAF, which operates the Sukhoi-30MKI aircraft. As combat pilots, they regularly conducted training sorties and operational readiness missions to maintain air defence preparedness.
Sqn Ldr Anuj held the rank of Squadron Leader, which reflects significant flying experience and leadership responsibilities within the squadron. Flt Lt Purvesh Duragkar served as a Flight Lieutenant and was among the younger fighter pilots actively involved in operational training.
Their supreme sacrifice marks a major loss for the Indian Air Force and highlights the risks fighter pilots face during demanding training missions.
Sukhoi Missing Latest Update: Sukhoi Fighter Jet Crash History in India
The Sukhoi-30MKI is one of the most important fighter jets in India’s air combat fleet. However, like all high-performance aircraft, it has been involved in occasional accidents over the years.
In the past year alone, at least one major Sukhoi-30 crash had been reported before this incident.
One notable crash occurred in June 2024 in the Nashik district of Maharashtra during a test flight. Both pilots managed to eject safely in that incident, but the aircraft was destroyed.
Another earlier accident occurred in January 2023, when a Sukhoi fighter jet crashed soon after taking off from the Gwalior airbase.
Despite these incidents, the Sukhoi-30MKI remains one of the most reliable and capable aircraft in the Indian Air Force fleet.
Sukhoi Su-30 price in India
The Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jet is among the most expensive combat aircraft operated by India. The approximate cost of one aircraft is estimated at around ₹350–400 crore, depending on upgrades and equipment.
Which Country Designed Sukhoi?
The aircraft is originally designed by Russia’s Sukhoi but is manufactured in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under licence.
Sukhoi 30 Speed
The Sukhoi-30MKI can reach a top speed of around Mach 2, which is roughly 2,120 km/h at high altitude. The aircraft can also fly long distances without refuelling and perform complex combat manoeuvres.
Sukhoi 30 MKI World Ranking
The Sukhoi-30MKI is widely considered among the top multi-role fighter jets in the world. Defence analysts often rank it within the top 10 combat aircraft due to its powerful engines, long range, and ability to carry multiple weapons.
Sukhoi 30 MKI Full Form
The full form of Su-30MKI is Sukhoi-30 Modernizirovannyi Kommercheskiy Indiski, which means a modernised commercial version of the Su-30 designed specifically for India.
IAF Sukhoi Su-30 Missing: Sukhoi 30 MKI Generation
The Sukhoi-30MKI belongs to the 4.5-generation fighter aircraft category. It combines advanced avionics, long-range strike capability, and super-manoeuvrability, making it one of the backbone aircraft of India’s air defence system.
IAF Sukhoi Su-30 Missing: How Many Sukhoi MKI India has?
The Indian Air Force currently operates more than 260 Sukhoi-30MKI jets, which form the largest part of its combat fleet.
