IAF Jaguar crashes in Haryana

A Jaguar jet of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed while taking off from the Ambala airbase in Haryana on Tuesday, official sources said in New Delhi.

IAF spokesman Squadron Leader Mahesh Upasni said the pilot, who was not injured in the accident, aborted the takeoff after the jet apparently developed technical problems.

The IAF has ordered an inquiry into the accident.

There was no damage on the ground as the accident occurred in the airbase at about 4.15 pm, Upsani said.

This was the second British-designed Jaguar jet and the ninth aircraft lost by the IAF this year. A Jaguar crashed in Rajasthan in January, killing its pilot.

The IAF has also lost three of its ageing MiG-21s, with the most recent accident involving the Russian-designed jet occurring a week ago at Srinagar.

Four IAF pilots have died in accidents this year, including the two pilots who were killed when a MiG-21 exploded in a ball of fire near the Srinagar airport on July 15.

The IAF's flight safety record has come under a cloud due to these crashes, which have resulted in losses running into millions of rupees.

Official figures show at least 221 MiGs, worth tens of millions of dollars, were lost in crashes between 1991 and 2000, killing about 100 pilots.