MiG-29 crashes in Jamnagar; pilot ejects safely

AHMEDABAD: A multi-role twin engine MiG-29 fighter jet of the Indian Air Force crashed after its pilot ejected, around five-km from Jamnagar air station in Gujarat, on Friday morning

Flight Lieutenant Dhruv Shukla, the pilot, was on a routine sortie. He was first taken to a civil hospital before being rushed to Jamnagar IAF base hospital.

It was unclear whether Shukla was doing formation flying or was on a solo mission when the jet crashed and broke into pieces. There was no damage on the ground.

Experts said it appears the aircraft was returning to the base when the pilot ejected due to unknown reasons.

The South Western Air Command ordered a court of inquiry into the crash, which has alarmed the defense establishment as it the second involving MiG-29 since June 25 in Gujarat.

A MiG-21 'Bison' fighter aircraft crashed at Naliya, about 100km from Bhuj, in November 2012. Three months earlier, nine IAF personnel died when two Mi-17 helicopters collided during a practice for a bombing mission at Sarmat range in Jamnagar.