Wreckage of missing IAF Sukhoi-30 fighter jet found in forest area

A wreckage of Indian Air Force's (IAF) Sukhoi-30 fighter jet that went missing on May 23 after taking off from Salonibari airbase has been found in forest area.

A wreckage was found close to the last known position of the aircraft as the search operations continued for the fourth day.

Apart from the aerial assets, four ground parties of IAF personnel, nine parties of Indian Army and two parties of state administration have been deployed at different locations to search the area for the aircraft.

Ground parties standing by to be airlifted to site as area is inaccessible. Srch for flight data recorder&missing crew to be perused by them pic.twitter.com/1Kt2vVxe8X

— ANI (@ANI_news) May 26, 2017

Search parties of Army also attempting to reach site by trekking cross country,progress hampered due to inclement weather,thick vegetation pic.twitter.com/E5Tdd0cvT6

— ANI (@ANI_news) May 26, 2017

The fighter plane had lost radar and radio contact with Tezpur Salonibari Air Force station an hour after taking off from there at 10.30 am with the last contact approximately 60 km north of Tezpur.

At present Tezpur has a strength of two squadrons of SU-30 aircraft with one squadron comprising 12 to 16 aircraft, IAF sources said.