Panaji, November 16: A MiG-29K fighter aircraft of the Indian Navy crashed on Saturday as soon as it took off in Goa. According to a tweet by ANI, the fighter aircraft was on a training mission. As per sources of the Indian Navy, both pilots managed to eject safely. Reports inform that the aircraft which crashed was a trainer version of the fighter jet. No causalities have been reported in the incident. Navy Spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal was quoted by the ANI saying that the MiG-29K trainer aircraft suffered an engine fire following which it crashed. The pilots who ejected safely have been identified as Captain M Sheokhand and Lt Commander Deepak Yadav.
In September, a single engine Cheetah helicopter of the Indian Army crashed in Bhutan. Two people were killed in the crash. Reports informed that one Indian Army pilot and a pilot from the Bhutanese Royal Army lost their lives in the incident, ANI reported. The Indian Army pilot who died in the crash was of Lt Col (Lieutenant colonel) rank while the other was a Bhutanese Army pilot training with the Indian Army.
Here's the tweet:
#UPDATE Navy Spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal: The MiG-29K trainer aircraft suffered an engine fire. The pilots Captain M Sheokhand and Lt Commander Deepak Yadav ejected safely. https://t.co/ArPwXBw8Kk
— ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2019
India has been the first international customer of the MiG-29. In 1980, the Indian Air Force (IAF) placed an order for more than 66 MiG-29s. Since its induction into the IAF in 1985, the aircraft has undergone a series of modifications with the addition of new avionics, sub-systems, turbofan engines and radars.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 16, 2019 12:52 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).