Search continues for missing Su-30 fighter jet: IAF

A day after the Indian Air Force's Sukhoi-30 fighter aircraft with its two pilots went missing soon after take-off from Tezpur airbase in Assam, search and rescue operations continued on Wednesday but without any result and bad weather hampered the process, the IAF said.

"Till now, no breakthrough has been made in locating the aircraft and its pilots," the Indian Air Force said.

On Wednesday, an IAF C-130 aircraft with electro-optical payload, an Advanced Light Helicopter, and Chetak helicopters were tasked for the search operation. Su-30 aircraft with recce capability are also being utilised for locating the missing aircraft, the air force said.

Apart from the aerial assets, four ground teams of IAF personnel, nine of the Indian Army and two of state administration were deployed on different axis to scour the area.

"Marginal weather prevailing in the area being searched is hampering and impeding the operation," an IAF statement said.

China, meanwhile, said it has "no information" about the missing Indian Air Force jet and warned India not to disturb peace in the border area while searching for it.

The Su-30 jet with two pilots on board took off from the IAF Tezpur air base, located about 172 km from India-China border in Arunachal Pradesh around 9.30 a.m. on a routine training mission.

It lost radar and radio contact with the controlling station around 11.10 a.m. near Arunachal Pradesh's Doulasang area, an area adjoining China, 60 km north of Tezpur.

Tezpur is one of the three IAF air bases in the country that host the Sukhois.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang on Wednesday said in Beijing that he had "no relevant information" on the missing jet.

"First of all, on the eastern section of the China-India border, our position is consistent and clear. We have been following the situation in South Tibet very closely. We hope India can stick to arrangements between two sides and avoid disturbing peace and stability in border areas," Lu said.

Beijing claims parts of Arunachal Pradesh in India's northeast as South Tibet.

Last year, a Sukhoi-30MKI crashed near Nagaon town of Assam during a routine sortie. While the two pilots ejected safely, some locals suffered splinter injuries in the crash.

--IANS

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