Article Posted on : - Sep 05, 2013

The Gripen fighter. A Saab photo

BANGKOK (PTI): Three Gripen fighter jets will be delivered to Thailand, two days later than scheduled, after one of them was struck by lightning while flying over India.

The accident caused minor damage to an electronic system, Air Force spokesman AVM Monthon Satchukorn said here on Wednesday.

He dismissed a previous report that the jet was severely damaged and had to make an emergency landing in India.

The three jets landed at an Indian airport because they had to refuel.

Technicians also took the opportunity to check the lightning hit jet and change some parts.

Monthon said the delivery of three jets, which is the last batch of a total of 12 Gripen jets the Air Force has purchased from Sweden and previously slated for delivery on Tuesday, was the responsibility of Sweden, Nation newspaper said.