A Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed in the hilly terrain of Assam’s Karbi Anglong district on Thursday evening, shortly after taking off from the Jorhat Air Base. The incident created concern among residents in nearby villages and prompted an immediate search and rescue operation in the remote hill area. According to initial information, the aircraft had taken off from the 47 Squadron of the Jorhat Air Base as part of a routine sortie. Two pilots were on board the fighter jet at the time of the flight. Soon after take-off, contact with the aircraft was reportedly lost, following which the possibility of a crash in the nearby hill region was raised. Residents living in villages close to the hills reported hearing a loud explosion-like sound at around 7 pm.
The sound echoed across the surrounding mountains and created panic among people in nearby settlements. Some villagers also said they saw smoke rising from a distant hill area shortly after the sound, which strengthened fears that an aircraft had gone down there. Sources indicated that the crash site is believed to be located near Nilip Block under Chokihola in Karbi Anglong district. The area is covered with dense forest and rugged hills and is located far from human habitation. Because of the difficult terrain and lack of proper road access, reaching the exact site immediately has been a challenge. Following the incident, a major alert was sounded at the Jorhat Air Base. Search and rescue teams were mobilised to move towards the suspected crash location. Authorities said teams are working to reach the area and confirm details from the ground.
Medical teams have also been kept ready as part of the emergency response. Five ambulances from the Air Force Hospital in Jorhat were rushed towards the area to assist the rescue operation if required. Security forces and other agencies are expected to support the effort once the exact crash location is identified. An official statement regarding the incident is expected from the Tezpur Air Base, which supervises several Indian Air Force operations in the region. As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official confirmation about the condition of the two pilots or the status of the aircraft.
