NEW DELHI – An Indian Air Force Su-30MKI fighter jet was reported delayed after takeoff from Jorhat in the northeastern Indian state of Assam, prompting military authorities to launch an emergency search and rescue operation.
The Indian Air Force confirmed the development on Thursday, saying the aircraft lost contact with ground control shortly after departure. According to an official update posted on social media platform X, the aircraft last communicated with authorities at 7:42pm local time.
IAF Su-30 MKI reported to be overdue. The aircraft took off from Jorhat in Assam and the last contact was made at 7:42 pm.
More details are in the works. The search and rescue mission has begun.@DefenceMinIndia@SpokespersonMoD@HQ_IDS_India@adgpi@Indianavi— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) March 5, 2026
Officials said the fighter jets flew from Jorhat Air Force Base, a key base in Assam that supports air defense operations in India’s northeast.
“The IAF Su-30 MKI has been reported as overdue. The aircraft took off from Jorhat, Assam and had its last contact at 7.42 pm. Details are being confirmed. Search and rescue mission has been initiated,” the Air Force said in a statement.
Soon after the aircraft was declared overdue, the Indian Air Force launched a search and rescue mission to ascertain the aircraft’s location and the condition of its crew. As part of the operation, rescue teams including air and ground units were mobilized. Military authorities have not yet confirmed the number of people on board the aircraft at the time of the accident.
Air Force officials said more details would be released as additional information becomes available.
The Su-30MKI is one of the key frontline fighters of the Indian Air Force and constitutes a critical component of India’s air combat capabilities. Jointly developed by Russia’s Sukhoi Design Bureau and India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, the twin-engine multirole fighter is designed for long-range air superiority missions and ground attack operations.
The aircraft is widely deployed at various air bases in India and is equipped with advanced avionics, long-range weapon systems and high mobility capabilities to enable it to perform a variety of combat and surveillance missions. This platform has played an important role in the Indian Air Force’s air defense operational strategy, especially in strategically sensitive areas, including northern and eastern India.
Authorities have not yet released the mission profile of the aircraft involved in Thursday’s incident or whether it was participating in routine training at the time.
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