Squadron Leader Anuj Vashisth and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar (Photo: IAF)
New Delhi: An Indian Air Force Sukhoi-30MKI went down in Assam's Karbi Anglong district on Thursday, killing both pilots aboard.
The aircraft had departed Jorhat Air Force Station for a routine training sortie when ground control lost radar contact at approximately 7.42pm.
The jet came down in hilly, forested terrain roughly 60 kilometres from the base. Locals reported hearing a loud blast and seeing smoke billowing from the hillside shortly after.
The IAF identified the two pilots as Squadron Leader Anuj Vashisth and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar, both of whom died in the crash.
A court of inquiry has been convened to investigate whether a technical fault, environmental condition, or operational factor was responsible.
A Troubled History
The Su-30MKI forms the core of India's fighter fleet, with over 260 jets in service – manufactured under licence by HAL based on Russia's Sukhoi design. It is a capable multirole platform, but its operational record has not been without blemish.
The first accident came in April 2009, when a crash in Rajasthan killed one of two ejecting pilots.
A second loss followed in November that year after an engine fire over Pokhran.
Further accidents occurred through 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2017 – variously attributed to technical failures, human error, and in one case, a faulty weapons release during a night sortie.
Assam has seen multiple incidents specifically. A Su-30MKI came down near Tezpur in 2015, and another near Majuli island in 2019 – both crews ejecting safely.
A midair collision over Gwalior in January 2023 destroyed both a Su-30 and a Mirage 2000, killing the Mirage pilot.
Most recently, a crash near Nashik in June 2024 during a post-overhaul test flight ended with both crew members ejecting successfully.
The Karbi Anglong crash marks the 13th confirmed loss of a Su-30MKI in Indian service over 22 years – a sobering milestone that underscores the inherent dangers of operating high-performance combat aircraft in demanding conditions.
The IAF has extended its condolences to the families of the two pilots who gave their lives in service.
