An Indian Air Force Sukhoi Su-30 MKI front-line fighter jet have crashed in mountainous region in Tezpur, North Eastern part of India bo...
An Indian Air Force Sukhoi Su-30 MKI front-line fighter jet have crashed in mountainous region in Tezpur, North Eastern part of India bordering China.
The two seater aircraft on a routine training sortie took off from the Tezpur Air Base on Tuesday morning, as a part of a two aircraft formation.
The radio and radar contact with the aircraft was lost at 11 am local time, with the last reported position of the aircraft about 60 km north-west of Tezpur.
Immediately, the aircraft was declared overdue and Search and Rescue operations were activated to locate the aircraft and the pilots involving helicopters and local military personnel.
The wreckage has not been located as the region with dense forest is prevailing with poor weather conditions.
The crash is the second involving the type in 2017 and also the second Su-30 MKI lost while operating from the base.
Excluding the crash, IAF had lost seven Su-30 MKIs since induction to fleet in 1997 and non of them have been fatal.
The Su-30MKI forms the front line fighter fleet of Indian Air Force, who have ordered a total of 272 aircraft. More than 200 have been delivered, which are license assembled by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd since 2004.
The IAF Su-30 MKI fleet has been beset with maintenance problems due to poor Russian spare supply which have affected availability of the aircraft.
Despite a long term deal with Russia to procure parts, the situation has not improved much. The fleet also suffered from mid-air engine problems that caused 34 single engine landings between April 2014 and May 2016, according to a Government statement.
A 2014 crash involving the type was found to be caused due to an uncommanded ejection of the pilot seats in flight, which caused the aircraft to crash land.
