- A Court of Inquiry has been constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident
NE NEWS SERVICE
AHMEDABAD, MAY 8
The Indian Air Force MiG-21 fighter aircraft, which took off from Suratgarh at about 9:45 am, crashed near the Hanumangarh area in Rajasthan. The pilot was rescued safely, but the flight’s wreckage, which fell on a house in Bahlol Nagar in Hanumangarh District, claimed three lives. The pilot was recovered from about 25 kilometres northeast of the Suratgarh base, said an IAF release.
In a statement on the same, the IAF said, “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 northeast of Suratgarh base.”
“But the aircraft wreckage fell on a house in Bahlol Nagar in Hanumangarh District, unfortunately leading to the loss of three lives. The IAF regrets the loss of lives and offers its deepest condolences to the bereaved families. A Court of Inquiry has been constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident,” read the statement issued by the Indian Air Force.
An Army helicopter has reached the accident site for rescue. According to police, three civilian casualties, including two women, were reported after the plane crashed into their house in Bahlolnagar in Hanumangarh district. Rescue operation is underway,” Rajasthan police said.
