IAF’s MiG 27 aircraft on routine mission crashes near Rajasthan’s Jodhpur
NEW DELHI, Mar 31, 2019, The Indian Express. A MiG 27 aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed near Rajasthan’s Jodhpur city on Sunday morning. As per the Indian Air Force’s statement, the pilot handling the aircraft had ejected safely and there was no loss to life. The MiG 27 UPG aircraft was on a routine mission from Utarlai Air Force base in Barmer, reported The Indian Express.
The IAF released a statement on the crash. “Today morning at around 1145h, a MiG-27 UPG aircraft, which got airborne from Utarlai Air Force base experienced engine problems leading to a crash at about 120 kms South of Jodhpur. Pilot ejected safely. Preliminary reports indicate no loss of property or life on ground. A Court of Inquiry will investigate cause of the accident,” the statement said.
This is the second time in 2019 a MiG 27 has crashed. On February 12, a MiG 27 aircraft went down near Pokhran range in Rajasthan. However, the pilot had ejected safely before the fighter aircraft hit the ground. The aircraft was on a training mission and had taken off from the Jaisalmer airbase.
Days before this crash, a newly upgraded IAF Mirage 2000 crashed while on a test sortie at the old HAL airport in Bengaluru. The two pilots handling the aircraft were killed in the crash.