JAIPUR: An MiG-21
fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed on Monday morning at Suratgarh in Hanumangarh district during an operational training sortie. In the accident, lives of three locals were lost said an official statement.
The aircraft wreckage fell on a house in Bahlol Nagar in Hanumangarh district, during which three women died. Three persons were also injured in the accident, who were rushed to a hospital in the district.
“A MiG-21 fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed today morning at about 0945 hours. The aircraft had got airborne for a routine operational training sortie from the Air Force Station at Suratgarh. Soon thereafter, the pilot experienced an onboard emergency, following which he attempted to recover the aircraft as per existing procedures. Having failed to do so, he initiated an ejection, sustaining minor injuries in the process. The pilot was recovered from about 25 kilometres North East of Suratgarh base,” said a statement released by PRO Defence, Rajasthan.
The Indian Air Force took to social media and tweeted, “The accident has unfortunately led to the loss of three lives on ground. The IAF regrets this loss and offers its deepest condolences to the bereaved families.”
A court of Inquiry has been constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident.
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