Jet crashes near Chamarajanagar village; pilots eject safely

CHAMARAJANAGAR: An Indian Air Force (IAF) Kiran jet trainer aircraft (U 692) crashed in an open field on the outskirts of Bhogapura village in Chamarajanagar district on Thursday. However, the two pilots safely ejected using parachutes.

The pilots managed to eject safely.

The aircraft broke into several pieces on impact and the Fire and Emergency Services were rushed to the spot to put out the fire.

Curious villagers had gathered at the crash site and district administration officials were also at the spot. A probe has been ordered into the plane crash by the IAF.

The instructor and the trainee pilot were airlifted to Bengaluru by an IAF helicopter.

The trainer aircraft had taken off from the HAL airport in Bengaluru and had caught fire while it was in the air. The pilots Wing Commander Tejpal and trainee pilot Bhoomika, who had ejected, sustained minor injuries and were airlifted to Bengaluru by an IAF helicopter. Soon after the crash, IAF officials arrived at the crash site in three helicopters.

The pilots had sustained minor injuries.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Katyayini Devi said fire tenders were rushed to the spot as soon as they received information about the crash. “The aircraft took off from Bengaluru on a training sortie, and, around 12.30 pm, a technical snag developed after which both the pilot and co-pilot ejected”, said Fire and Emergency Services officer Jayaram.

Indian Air Force officials visited the crash site and the place where the pilots had fallen.

Senior IAF officials, along with the local police, also inspected the site where the pilots fell, which is about 2 km from the crash site. It is said that the pilots heard a blast when they were flying over Mangala village and decided to eject in an open space. The site where the aircraft crashed is just about half km from Bhogapura and could have caused huge damage if it had crashed in the village.