INDIA – An Indian Air Force fighter jet crash in Assam state late Thursday killed 2 pilots, according to authorities.

The aircraft lost contact after taking off from Jorhat in Assam on Thursday evening.

The Indian Air Force confirmed Friday morning that both pilots sustained fatal injuries in the crash.

“All personnel of the IAF express sincere condolences and stand firmly with the bereaved families in this time of grief,” the air force said in a statement on US social media company X.

Earlier Friday, the air force said Su-30MKI fighter aircraft – originally developed by Russia – was on a training mission when it crashed in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district.

Authorities later launched a search and rescue operation.