IAF Sukhoi-30 fighter jet loses radar contact during sortie in Assam
GUWAHATI — A Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force lost radar contact during a sortie over Assam’s Karbi Anglong district on Thursday, defense officials said, prompting a search operation in the region.
According to the Defense Public Relations Officer, the aircraft disappeared from radar during what officials described as a routine mission.
“An IAF Sukhoi-30 aircraft has lost radar contact. Air Force teams have been launched to ascertain the facts and verify the situation,” the official said.
Initial reports indicate that the aircraft was flying over the hilly terrain of Karbi Anglong district when communication with ground control was suddenly lost.
Search and rescue teams from the Air Force, along with personnel from the local administration and other security agencies, have been mobilized to locate the aircraft and determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Officials said details about the aircraft’s last known location and the number of personnel on board were still being confirmed.
Sources in the defense establishment said the area where radar contact was lost is largely covered by dense forests and mountainous terrain, which could make search and rescue operations more challenging.
Rescue teams are coordinating with local authorities and security forces to carry out the operation.
The Sukhoi-30MKI is one of the Indian Air Force’s frontline multi-role fighter aircraft and forms a key component of the country’s air defense capability.
Similar incidents involving the aircraft have occurred in the past. In August 2019, a Sukhoi-30MKI crashed in a paddy field near Tezpur in Assam during a routine training mission, though both pilots ejected safely and were later rescued.
In May 2015, another Sukhoi-30MKI crashed about 36 kilometers south of the Tezpur Air Force base shortly after takeoff, with both pilots ejecting safely before the aircraft went down.
Authorities said the search operation is ongoing and more information will be released as the situation becomes clearer. (Source: IANS)
