IAF Sukhoi-30MKI Feared Crashed in Remote Assam Hills

• By Thetripurapost Desk, Guwahati
• Mar 05, 2026
• 613

A frontline Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet of the Indian Air Force is suspected to have crashed in the rugged and forested hills of Karbi Anglong District in Assam on Thursday evening, March 5, shortly after reportedly taking off from the air base in Jorhat. The incident has sparked anxiety among residents of nearby villages and prompted expectations of an immediate search and rescue operation by security agencies.

Preliminary information suggests that the suspected crash may have occurred in a remote mountainous stretch near Nilip Block under Chokihola. Local residents reported hearing a thunderous explosion-like sound at around 7 PM, which echoed across the surrounding hills and triggered panic in nearby settlements.

Eyewitness accounts indicate that the deafening blast reverberated through the valley, leading villagers to suspect that a military aircraft may have gone down in the area. Some locals also claimed to have seen plumes of smoke rising from the direction of the hills shortly after the loud detonation.

Sources familiar with the development indicated that the aircraft involved was likely a Sukhoi-30 fighter jet that had departed from Jorhat earlier in the evening as part of a routine sortie. However, officials have not yet issued any formal confirmation regarding the incident.

The suspected crash site is believed to be located deep inside a dense forested and mountainous terrain, far from human habitation, making immediate access challenging. Security forces and relevant authorities are expected to launch a coordinated search and rescue operation to verify the reports and reach the possible crash location.

As of now, there has been no official update on the fate of the pilots or the condition of the aircraft. Authorities are currently cross-checking reports from the ground, and more details are expected once rescue teams access the area and assess the situation.