Missing Sukhoi wreckage found in Assam; two pilots feared dead

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 26

The wreckage of an Indian Air Force Sukhoi SU-30 jet, which had gone missing on Tuesday, was found on Friday at a spot some 60 km north-west  of Tezpur.

“Wreckage found. Close to the last known position of aircraft. As of now weather is bad and the place has dense foliage. Further update follows,” said the IAF in an official statement.

Two pilots were onboard the aircraft and their location is yet to be ascertained. However, it is being presumed that they did not survive the crash.

The jet lost contact on May 23rd following which massive search operations were launched to track the jet.

However, bad weather did serve as an impediment in the rescue mission.

Four ground teams of IAF personnel, nine of the Indian Army and two of state administration, were deployed on different axis to scour the area.

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The Sukhoi, a twin-engined aircraft, is of Russian origin and is considered a stable aircraft.

The aircraft had got airborne from Tezpur around 10. 30 am on a routine training mission.

It lost radar and radio contact approximately 60 Km north of Tezpur towards Arunachal Pradesh.