Guwahati/Diphu/Jorhat, March 5 An Indian Air Force Sukhoi-30 fighter aircraft went missing from radar contact while flying over Assam's Karbi Anglong district on Thursday evening, shortly after taking off from Jorhat airbase, officials said.
Defence PRO Lt Col Mahender Rawat said that the Su-30 MKI fighter jet went missing from the radar when it was flying over the Karbi Anglong district in the evening.
"An IAF Su-30 MKI is reported overdue. The aircraft had taken off from Jorhat air base in Assam and was last in contact at 7:42 pm," Rawat said in a statement.
An aircraft is considered overdue if it fails to arrive at its destination or fails to report within 30 minutes of its estimated time of arrival (ETA) or last reported position, prompting the activation of search and rescue (SAR) procedures.
Rawat said that search and rescue operations have been initiated to locate and ascertain the status of the Russian-origin fighter jet.
There is no immediate news of the pilot yet, the PRO said.
Meanwhile, an official from the Karbi Anglong district administration said that some locals from the Chokihola area in Bokajan sub-division have claimed that a plane crashed inside a forested area.
"A few locals have reached the spot and shared some pictures of a purported plane crash. We are preparing a team to send and verify it. We cannot confirm anything at this moment," he added.
A senior police official told
