Sukhoi wreckage found, weather hampers search

Three days after a Sukhoi fighter jet went missing, its wreckage was traced on Friday, prompting the Indian Air Force (IAF) to order a court of inquiry into the crash. The ruins of the aircraft were found 60 km north-west of Tezpur, Assam.    

The two-seater Su-30 MKI jet with two pilots on board had gone missing on Tuesday, shortly after taking off from the Tezpur Salonibari air force station on a routine sortie as part of a two-aircraft formation. The aircraft lost radar and radio contact with the control station.

The wreckage of the jet was discovered inside a thick forest close to the spot where it lost radar contact with the base. The tough terrain and harsh weather condition have made rescue operations difficult. This is the eighth case of a Sukhoi crash since its induction.

“The wreckage has been located and ground parties are waiting to be airlifted to the crash site as the area is totally inaccessible. A search for the flight’s data recorder and missing crew will be perused by the ground parties once they reach the crash site,” an Indian Air Force statement said.

Search teams from the Army are attempting to trek their way to the crash site as their progress is getting hampered due to inclement weather, thick vegetation, and the steep gradient of the terrain.

“Aerial search was commenced based on the jet’s last known position. Incessant rain and dense cloud cover have hampered the search operations in air and on ground. Search parties of both the IAF and the Army have already headed for the area where the aircraft was declared missing,’’ the IAF statement said.