New Delhi: A MiG-29 fighter jet crashed into a field near Agra on Monday during a routine training sortie.
The aircraft had taken off from Punjab’s Adampur and was en route to Agra for an exercise when the mishap took place following a technical glitch, Indian Air Force and Defence officials said.
The pilot managed to jump out to safety.
“A MiG-29 aircraft of the IAF crashed near Agra during a routine training sortie today, after encountering a system malfunction. The pilot manoeuvred the aircraft to ensure no damage to life or property on the ground, before ejecting safely. An inquiry has been ordered by the IAF to ascertain the cause of the accident,” the Air Force said in a statement.
Pictures of plumes of smoke from the crashed jet went viral on social media.
A court of inquiry will investigate the crash.
Just two months ago, another MiG-29 fighter jet had crashed and burst into flames. A technical snag resulted in the fighter jet crashing in Rajasthan’s Barmer on September 2. There also, the pilot managed to safely eject before the crash.
