In a tragic incident, two Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots were killed when a Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet crashed in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district on the evening of March 5, 2026. The aircraft was on a routine training mission when it lost radar contact with Air Traffic Services at approximately 7:42 PM, shortly after taking off from Jorhat Air Force Base.
The IAF confirmed the deaths of Squadron Leader Anuj and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar, both of whom sustained fatal injuries in the crash. The wreckage was found in the hilly and forested terrain of Chokihula village in Bokajan Sub Division, approximately 60 kilometres from the Jorhat airbase. Local villagers were among the first to locate the crash site and helped recover the bodies.
Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar, 28, was a decorated pilot who had previously participated in Operation Sindoor — India’s major military operation targeting terror bases in Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack. His father, Ravindra Duragkar, a retired railway employee from Nagpur, said he had spoken to his son just the day before the crash. “We had spoken on Wednesday. His Group Captain got in touch with us and informed us about the accident,” he said.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed deep grief over the loss, saying the courage and service of the officers will always be remembered with pride and gratitude. The IAF has initiated a Court of Inquiry to investigate the cause of the crash.
The Su-30MKI is India’s premier multirole fighter jet, jointly developed by Russia’s Sukhoi and produced under licence by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). It forms a key part of India’s air defence, especially along the eastern borders.
