Wreckage of Missing IAF Su-30 Aircraft Found in Assam After 3 Days

The wreckage was found in a dense forest in Assam, near the state’s border with Arunachal Pradesh.

Inclement weather and thick vegetation surrounding the wreckage have made the operation to salvage the it difficult. (Photo: ANI)

The missing Air Force Sukhoi Su-30 MKI fighter jet, that went missing on Tuesday, has been found around 60 kms from Tezpur, Assam, where it lost radar contact with base.

The two-seater fighter jet had gone missing after taking off from Tezpur airbase of Salonibari, and had lost radar and radio contact on 23 May at around 11:10 am, while it was on a routine training sortie.

Also Read: Search For Sukhoi Jet Continues, China Has ‘No Information’

Ground parties are standing by to be airlifted to the crash site, as the area is inaccessible. Search for the flight data recorder and missing crew members will be perused by them.

Search parties of Armed Forces are also attempting to reach the site by trekking cross country. Their progress, however, has been hampered due to inclement weather, and the thick vegetation surrounding the wreckage.

A Court of Inquiry has been ordered to investigate the cause of the accident.

The Defence spokesperson of the Tezpur 4 Corps, Lt Col Sombit Ghosh, said that the wreckage of the missing Su-30 jet was found close to the last known position.

As of now (Friday), weather is bad and the place has dense foliage and members of the search operation are yet to reach the spot .

Lt Col Sombit Ghosh

Unconfirmed reports said the fighter plane had on board one squadron leader and a crew member, but the IAF is yet to release the name or rank of the two members in the missing plane.

(With inputs from PTI, ANI)

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