An Indian Air Force Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft lost radar contact on Thursday evening shortly after taking off from the airbase in Assam's Jorhat, prompting a search and rescue operation for the aircraft and its two pilots, defence officials said.
The aircraft was last in contact with ground control at around 7.42 pm before it went off radar, the officials said.
"The aircraft had two pilots on board and there has been no contact with them so far. Search operations have been launched to locate the aircraft and the pilots," an IAF official said on condition of anonymity.
Security forces and search teams have begun operations in the hilly terrain to verify the reports and locate the aircraft. Officials said the area is remote and difficult to access, which could make the search operation challenging.
The Sukhoi-30 MKI is one of the Indian Air Force's frontline multirole fighter aircraft and forms a key component of India's air defence capabilities.
