IAF Sukhoi SU-30 combat jetcrashes in Assam, pilots safe

A frontline Sukhoi SU-30MKI combat jet of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed in Assam's Nagaon district at 12.30 p.m. on Tuesday, an official said, adding that both pilots had ejected and were safe.

The aircraft had taken off from the Tezpur air base "on a routine mission", the official said.

"After take off, the aircraft had developed a technical snag and the pilot was forced to abandon the aircraft. Both the pilots ejected. The ejection was safe and the aircraft crashed at 1230 hours...in a thick forest near Tezpur.

"A Court of Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident," Group Captain Amit Mahajan, the defence ministry PRO in Shillong, said in a statement - IANS