Karbi Anglong: An Indian Air Force Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet crashed Thursday night in the Karbi Anglong district of Assam during a routine training mission, officials confirmed.

The aircraft, a twin-seater multirole fighter developed by Russia’s Sukhoi, disappeared from radar screens at approximately 7:42 p.m. shortly after departing from the airbase in Jorhat. Military authorities launched an immediate search and rescue operation to locate the wreckage and the two pilots on board.

"The Su-30MKI which was on a training mission, crashed in the area of Karbi Anglong, Assam, approx 60 km from Jorhat," the IAF stated in a release. "Search operations are underway."

Before confirming the crash, the IAF had initially reported the jet as "overdue" and noted that further details were being established. Local residents in the remote, forested Chokihola area reported hearing a massive explosion and seeing smoke rising from the hills around the time contact was lost, though ground teams have faced challenges reaching the suspected site due to the difficult terrain.

The Su-30MKI serves as a cornerstone of India’s aerial defence strategy, with the IAF maintaining a fleet of more than 260 of the advanced jets, many of which are manufactured under license by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

With inputs from ANI