IAF Sukhoi Su-30MKI Goes Missing Over Assam, Search Operation Launched

A Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet of the Indian Air Force (IAF) went missing on Thursday evening after losing radar and communication contact during a sortie over Assam. The aircraft had taken off from the Rowriah Air Force Station in Jorhat and was last in touch with ground control at around 7:42 pm, after which it was declared overdue.

According to defence sources, the fighter jet was believed to be flying over the Karbi Anglong region when contact was suddenly lost. Soon after the aircraft disappeared from radar, the Indian Air Force initiated a search and rescue operation to locate the jet and determine the circumstances behind the incident.

Officials from the Defence Public Relations Office (PRO) in Guwahati confirmed that an IAF team has been dispatched to ascertain the facts and gather more information. Security forces and local authorities have also been alerted as part of the ongoing operation.

Preliminary reports suggest the aircraft may have gone down in a remote and hilly area near Nilip Block under Chokihola in Karbi Anglong district, although official confirmation is still awaited. Some local residents reportedly heard a loud explosion-like sound in the hills around evening, followed by smoke rising from the area.

Search teams are currently attempting to reach the suspected location, but the difficult terrain and remoteness of the area are expected to pose challenges for the rescue effort. Authorities have not yet released any confirmed information regarding the status of the pilots or the aircraft.

The Sukhoi Su-30MKI is a twin-engine, multirole fighter aircraft that forms the backbone of the Indian Air Force’s combat fleet and is regularly deployed from bases in Northeast India for operational and training missions.

Further details are awaited as search operations continue and defence authorities verify the exact circumstances of the incident.

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