New Delhi:Two pilots of the Indian Air Force (IAF) were killed after a Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet crashed in the Karbi Anglong district of Assam last night, officials said. 

The twin-seat fighter aircraft took off for a routine sortie from the Jorhat Air Force Station and lost communication with ground control at around 7:42 pm. After that, the aircraft could no longer be tracked.

Officials said the fighter jet eventually crashed in a remote hilly area of Karbi Anglong district, located about 60 km from Jorhat.

All about the Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jetDeveloped in Russia, the Su-30MKI is one of the most advanced fighter jets used by the Indian Air Force (IAF). It is a twin-engine, multi-role aircraft designed for air superiority and ground attack missions.

NATO has given the aircraft the codename "Flanker". The first Su-30MKI built in Russia was inducted into the Indian Air Force in 2002, while the first aircraft assembled in India entered service in November 2004.

The aircraft is powered by two AL-31FP turbofan engines, each producing about 12,500 kgf of thrust. Its thrust-to-weight ratio is about 8.7:1, meaning the engines generate much more power compared to the aircraft's weight, helping it climb quickly and perform sharp manoeuvres.

Source:Ndtv