Article Posted on : - Mar 10, 2010

IAF Mig 29 crashed on Feb 19th. A file photo

NEW DELHI (PTI): Government said that a total of seven aircraft of the Indian Air Force have crashed in air mishaps in the last six months.

"In the past six months from September 2009 to March 4, 2010, six fighter aircraft and one helicopter of the IAF have crashed," Defence Minister A K Antony said in reply to a Rajya Sabha query on Wednesday.

He added that the preliminary causes of the accidents were human error and technical defects.

In 2010, the IAF has lost two fighter aircraft -- a MiG-27 and a MiG-21. Last year, the IAF has recorded 11 air mishaps, of which five involved MiG-21 aircraft.

The Minister said various measures were being taken to reduce aircraft accidents.

Replying to another query, Antony said the prototype of naval variant of Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) was being built for the aircraft carriers and the project had lagged behind due to various requirements related to the development of a new fighter aircraft.

"Deficiencies have been detected in the airframe and other associated equipment of the aircraft and the DRDO is working with various organisations for rectifying these deficiencies," he added.