Article Posted on : - Feb 17, 2010

A file photo of MiG 27

SHILLONG (PTI): An IAF MiG-27 fighter aircraft crashed near Hashimara in West Bengal killing its pilot in the first such mishap this year.

"The MiG-27 crashed today and a pilot was killed in the mishap," an IAF officer said here on Tuesday.

The aircraft had taken off from Hashimara air base where a fighter squadron is based and was doing a sortie to Bagdogra when the mishap happened.

Wing commander Oswald who was flying the aircraft was killed in the aircrash, the officer said.

The aircraft had taken off from Hashimara and within a few minutes he reported fire in the engines before it crashed within the airbase around 2.15 pm.

The Eastern Air Command headquarters in Shillong has ordered a probe into the incident.

Last year, there were 11 air crashes including a couple of MiG 27s, denting the IAF's air safety record.