Article Posted on : - Sep 11, 2009

Remains of the MIG-21 aircraft that crashed in Bhaliana village on Thursday. Image Credit: PTI

MUKTSAR (PTI): A MiG-21 fighter aircraft of IAF crashed in the Muktsar district of Punjab, killing the pilot.

The war plane was on a routine sortie and had taken off from Bathinda airbase, Muktsar Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal said.

The crash occurred at Bhaliana village on Muktsar-Bathinda road, about 20 kms from here on Thursday, killing the pilot Flt Lt Manu Akhori on the spot, he said.

Senior officials of IAF, police and officials from the region’s civil administration have rushed to the spot.

A court of inquiry has been ordered into the mishap, an IAF spokesman said in New Delhi.