Jaisalmer, February 26
In the second accident
involving a fighter plane near Pokhran this month, a Jaguar fighter
aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) today crashed in the Asia’s
biggest field firing range killing the pilot.
The aircraft, which took
off from the Jaisalmer air station this morning on a regular sortie
exercise for next month’s air show, “Vaayu Shakti 2004”, crashed at
around 9.30 am in the field firing range, about 45 km from here, killing
the pilot, Wing Commander Ravi Khanna, police said.
There was no
civilian casualty or damage to property on the ground in the crash.
An
IAF spokesman said that a team of experts from Delhi would visit the
crash site tomorrow. An inquiry has been ordered into the reasons of the
crash.
Meanwhile, sources said the aircraft crashed apparently due to
technical failure as it approached the target site.
According to
eyewitnesses, the pilot was seen trying to parachute out but the chute
failed to open, resulting in his death.
A MiG 23 fighter plane had
crashed in the same area on February 7, killing its pilot.
