MiG-23 plane crashes near Ludhiana

A Russian-made Indian Air Force MiG-23 BN bomber from the Halwara Air Force base crashed in a field near Jagraon on Wednesday. The pilot bailed out, but suffered minor injuries.

The aircraft, being flown by Flt Lt Bharat Kumar, was flying low level and carrying out mock bombing runs near the SK firing range around 7.30 am, when it suddenly caught fire.

IAF sources said the pilot heard a loud bang and then noticed that the aircraft engine was on fire.

The fire was confirmed by the pilot of an accompanying MiG-23, following which the pilot undertook a ‘‘planned ejection’’.

Although a court of enquiry has been ordered into the incident, preliminary reports indicate either engine failure or a bird hit.

The pilot landed on a small mound next to the village and is learnt to have sustained a few bruises and bumps. Air officer commanding Air Commodore S.K. Jaiswal was unavailable for comment.

The IAF has lost 54 MiG-series aircraft and 25 pilots in crashes during the financial years 1998-1999, 1999-2000 and 2000-2001. A solitary MiG-23 crashed in 1999-2000 and three in 2000-2001.

Residents of Daya village said they noticed a trail of smoke from the aircraft. Initially, the aircraft seemed to be headed towards their village, but it drifted over their houses.

Only then did the pilot bail out and the plane nose-dived into the fields, said Harwant, an
eye-witness.

Ludhiana, June 27, 2002 (Times News Network)