Article Posted on : - May 15, 2009

A file photo of Indian Air Force aircraft MIG-27

JODHPUR (BNS): A MIG-27 fighter aircraft on a routine sortie crashed in Konkani village in Luni district Friday, injuring seven persons on the ground.

The crash took place around 0830 Hrs in village Luni, 42 kms from Jodhpur. However, the pilot ejected safely, Defence PRO Lt Col N N Joshi told PTI.

The plane crashed soon after takeoff, into an under construction house in a field of Konkani village of Luni, Joshi said, adding, that the Indian Air Force has ordered a probe into the crash.

SP (Rural) Sharat Kaviraj said seven persons, including a two-year-old child were injured while one of them is serious.

He said that the pilot was on a routine practice when the mishap occurred, "We will ascertain the exact cause of the crash after the IAF completes its probe into the accident."

This is the fourth IAF aircraft crash in 2009, the first being that of a Surya Kiran Aerobatics Team's Kiran-MkII crash in Bidar on January 21, followed by an unmanned aerial vehicle crash the same day in Hashimara and later on the Su-30MKI air superiority fighter near Jaisalmer on April 30.

The last MiG-27 crash had taken place in Hashimara on January 31 last year.