3 Villagers Dead As MiG-21 Jet Crashes Into Rajasthan Home, Pilot Ejects
The incident was reported from Rajasthan’s Hanumangarh.
Bikaner/New Delhi:
Three people were killed and three others injured after an Indian Air Force MIG-21 Fighter aircraft crashed into their home in a Rajasthan village today, officials have said.
The aircraft had taken off from the Suratgarh airbase for a routine exercise before it crashed near Pilibanga area in Rajasthan’s Hanumangarh due to a technical snag.
The pilot ejected from the aircraft in time using a parachute, officials said, adding that he is reported to be safe.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) said a helicopter was rushed to rescue the pilot who sustained minor injuries and that a probe has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the crash.
“A MiG-21 aircraft of the IAF crashed near Suratgarh during a routine training sortie today morning. The pilot ejected safely, sustaining minor injuries. An inquiry has been constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident,” it tweeted.
A MiG-21 aircraft of the IAF crashed near Suratgarh during a routine training sortie today morning. The pilot ejected safely, sustaining minor injuries.
An inquiry has been constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident.— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) May 8, 2023
Police said a rescue operation has been launched in the area where the aircraft had crashed.
“The pilot made all efforts to avert human casualties and crash-landed the plane on the outskirts of the village,” said Om Prakash, Inspector General of Police, Bikaner.
In January, two IAF fighter jets – a Sukhoi Su-30 and a Mirage 2000 – had crashed during a training exercise, resulting in the death of one pilot. While one aircraft crashed in Morena in Madhya Pradesh, the other went down 100 km away in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur.
