India, March 6 -- The Indian Air Force (IAF) Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jet, which went missing after losing radar contact after take-off from Assam's Jorhat on Thursday, crashed 60 km away in the hills of Karbi Anglong district, killing both pilots.

In a statement on X handle, the IAF said the aircraft was on a training mission and identified the pilots as Squadron Leader Anuj and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar. "All personnel of the IAF express sincere condolences and stand firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief," the statement said.

The IAF said the fighter jet was last in contact with the control station at around 7.42pm on Thursday before it went off radar, prompting a search and rescue operation.

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