The Indian Air Force confirmed the incident occurred on Friday, saying the jet went missing shortly after taking off from Jorhat airbase. Communication with the Russian-origin aircraft was lost at 7:42pm.

The crash took place in the Karbi Anglong district, around 60 kilometres from the airbase. The aircraft reportedly went down in a remote hilly area, making rescue and investigation operations challenging.

The deceased pilots were identified as Squadron Leader Anuj and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar. The IAF expressed deep condolences, stating that all personnel stand firmly with the bereaved families.

Residents reported hearing a loud explosion and seeing a ball of fire shortly after the crash. The dramatic visuals highlighted the severity of the incident.

India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described the crash as “tragic” and said he was deeply saddened by the loss of the two pilots.

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The Sukhoi Su-30MKI is a two-seater, long-range fighter aircraft developed by Russian manufacturer Sukhoi and produced under licence in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The IAF inducted it in 1997 and currently operates a fleet of over 260 Su-30MKI jets.

Similar crashes have occurred in recent years, including a Su-30MKI crash in Nashik, Maharashtra, in June 2024, and another in January 2023 shortly after taking off from the Gwalior airbase in Madhya Pradesh.