Indian Air Force Jaguar crashes near Ambala, pilot safe
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, May 8, IRNA -- An Indian Air Force Jaguar fighter aircraft Friday crashed within three minutes of take off from the airbase at Ambala, in the northern Indian state of Haryana, but the pilot, Flt Lt Tamaskar, bailed out safely. According to local press reports, the jet crashed in the fields in Manmohan Nagar, three kms from Ambala city, around 4:40 p.m (local time). There was no casualty on the ground, official sources said. Earlier official sources had said two pilots had ejected from the plane before it crashed. A court of inquiry has been ordered, an IAF spokesman said. The black box of the aircraft was recovered from the debris spread over an area of four kms. A fire broke out in the fields where the jet crashed which was extinguished by fire brigades. The crash is the second mishap involving a Jaguar in as many months. On April 2, two Jaguars collided mid-air in bad weather in Sonmarg, in Jammu and Kashmir, killing both the pilots. India has about 100 Jaguars that were inducted into active service in 1979. The initial lot was purchased from the United Kingdom, but now they are being manufactured in India. 2160/LS/210
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