An Indian Air Force (IAF) MiG-21 fighter aircraft crashed near Hanumangarh in Rajasthan on Monday. Three civilians dead in the crash. However the pilot is safe.
Indian Air Force in its statement said that the aircraft crashed during a routine training sortie. "The pilot ejected safely, sustaining minor injuries. An inquiry has been constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident," read the statement.
"The fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed at about 0945 hours. The aircraft had got airborne for a routine operational training sortie from the Air Force Station at Suratgarh. Soon thereafter, the pilot experienced onboard emergency, following which he attempted to recover the aircraft as per existing procedures. Having failed to do so, he initiated an ejection, sustaining minor injuries in the process. The pilot was recovered from about 25 kilometres North East of Suratgarh base," read the statement by IAF.
"The aircraft wreckage fell on a house in Bahlol Nagar in Hanumangarh District, unfortunately leading to the loss of three lives. The IAF regrets the loss of lives and offers its deepest condolences to the bereaved families," read the statement.
According to Om Prakash, IG Bikaner range, the pilot made efforts to avert human causalities and crash-landed the plane on the outskirts of a village. "Three women have died in the incident and three others sustained injuries," he said.
Burn injuries led to the death of the women said Sudheer Chaudhary, SP, Hanumangarh.
Chaudhary said that the plane crashed on the house of one Ratti Ram, killing his wife and two other women.
Initial reports said that the house was completely damaged besides some nearby houses.
While recalling the incident, a local resident reportedly said that he heard a loud sound and saw a parachute coming down. Soon after the plane crashed on the house of Ratti Ram.
The videos that surfaced the social media showed local people making efforts to douse flames with water and sand. Fire brigade and police reached the spot and women were taken to the hospital.
(With PTI inputs)