Two pilots killed in Indian fighter jet crash

NEW DELHI (AP): An Indian fighter jet crashed during a training flight in the northeast, killing its two pilots, the Indian air force said Friday.

The two-seater long-range Sukhoi fighter jet crashed in Assam state’s Karbi Anglong district after it took off from an airbase late Thursday, IAF said in a statement.

Officials were investigating the cause of the crash.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said he was “deeply saddened” by the loss of the two pilots.

The Russian-designed Su-30MKI is produced under license by India’s state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. The Indian air force operates over 260 of them.

India has had other crashes of the jet in June 2024 and January 2023.

Reports said teams from the Indian Air Force and local authorities were involved in search operations to locate the wreckage and determine the condition of the crew.

The Times of India reported that the Su-30MKI lost contact shortly after taking off from Jorhat air base.