IAF Su-30MKI crashes in Tezpur, both pilots eject safely

This is the IAF's 11th crash in 2019

Sukhoi-su-30-ap File photo of a Su-30MKI | AP

An Indian Air Force (IAF) Su-30MKI aircraft crashed in Assam's Tezpur region on Thursday evening, according to ANI. Both pilots ejected safely and were rescued.

A court of inquiry has been announced to look into the incident. According to ANI, the aircraft was on a routine training mission from Tezpur and was in the local flying area.

Both pilots of the aircraft ejected safely and have been rescued, defence spokesperson Lt Col Harsh Wardhan Pande said. One of the pilots suffered injury in his leg, he said.

The Su-30 MKI fighter jet was on a routine training mission when it crashed in the paddy field in the Milanpur area and burst into flames at around 8:30 pm, Lt Col Pande told PTI. The crash caused no damage to public property, he added.

This would be the 11th crash suffered by the IAF in 2019 alone, and the eighth crash of a Su-30 since the multirole fighter was inducted in 1997.

The last crash of a Su-30 took place in June of 2018, with both pilots escaping safely. An IAF probe issued an "inconclusive" report on the incident, with Russia blaming pilot error.

In 2017, a Su-30 crashed near Tezpur, claiming the lives of both pilots after they were unable to eject from their aircraft.

Updates to follow