Article Posted on : - Nov 23, 2009

A file photo.

NEW DELHI (PTI): The IAF has lost 36 aircraft and seven helicopters in accidents during a period of nearly four years beginning 2006 as 32 persons, including IAF personnel, were killed in the mishaps, the Lok Sabha was told on Monday.

"36 aircraft and 7 helicopters of the Indian Air Force (IAF) including the MiG series have crashed during the last three financial years and the current year as on November 16," Defence Minister A K Antony told Lok Sabha in a written reply to members' questions.

In 2006-07, there were four fatalities during the mishap for which Rs 21.77 lakh was paid as compensation for loss of lives and civil property.

In 2007-08, three lives were lost and Rs 14.25 lakh paid as compensation. Three more lives were lost in 2008-09 with Rs 25.01 lakh compensation paid.

This financial year, 22 lives were lost with Rs 67.8 lakh paid as compensation.

The IAF has witnessed nine crashes in 2009 alone, of which about 15 IAF and Army personnel lost their lives in a major crash involving an AN-32 transport aircraft in the north east early this year.