MiG-21 crashes in Upper Assam, pilot bails out

NEW DELHI: A MiG-21 fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force on Thursday crashed near Chabua in Upper Assam, badly hitting the IAF, which is already reeling under a series of air crashes and a depleting fighter squadron strength.

The pilot, identified as Flying Officer Hemanth Dave, however, managed to bail out from the cockpit in time to safety, IAF sources said here.

This is the sixth IAF plane crash this year and the second MiG-21 mishap within a month.

The type-77 aircraft got airborne from Chabua airbase around 1400 hrs, but went down immediately and crashed just outside the airbase into paddy fields after it experienced a technical snag.

"No damage to any civilian property or loss of lives was reported in the incident," sources said.

The MiG-21 pilot was on a training sortie when the mishap occurred.

"The pilot reported the technical error to the airbase and later jettisoned the aircraft," sources added.

The IAF had lost a Kiran MK-II trainer aircraft of its Surya Kiran aerobatics team on Januray 21, a Sukhoi on April 30, a MiG-27 on May 15, a MiG-21 Byson on May 27, and an AN-32 on June 9.