Indian Air Force fighter jet crashes in Himachal Pradesh, pilot dies

New Delhi : Indian Air Force fighter jet, MiG 21 crashed in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday, July 18, killing the pilot, the IAF said.  A court of inquiry has been ordered to find the cause of the accident, reported ANI.

The fighter jet had taken off from the Pathankot air base at 12:20 pm. It crashed around 1:20 pm in Patta Jattian village in Jawali, around 70 km from Dharamshala.

Earlier it was reported that the pilot was missing as mentioned by Kangra’s Superintendent of police of Kangra Santosh Patial.

Two IAF helicopters landed at the crash site soon after the accident for search operations and investigation. Police are also present on the spot. The fire has been doused but debris of the burnt jet are scattered everywhere. No injuries as been reported other than dead of the pilot.

Previously, another MiG 21 crashed in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district on May 27. The pilot was killed in the accident. Similar accident took place on July 18. It is high time that proper investigation should be conducted to know the actual reason behind the accidents, before the kind of incidents snatch more lives.