New Delhi, April 30 (Inditop) One person was killed when a frontline Su-30MKI combat jet of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed while on a routine training mission in Rajasthan, an official said.
The crash occurred at 10.30 a.m., some 70 km southeast of Jaisalmer, an IAF spokesperson said, adding that the aircraft had taken off from the Lohegaon air base near Pune.
The two-man crew ejected before the jet crashed. The pilot, Wing Commander S.V. Munje, survived but the navigator, Wing Commander P.S. Narah, succumbed to his injuries, the spokesperson added.
There were no reports of damage to property on the ground.
This is the first crash of a Su-30MKI, which was inducted into the IAF in 1997. The IAF operates three squadrons (approximately 55 aircraft) of the jet, which is being manufactured under license in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
It was not immediately clear whether the aircraft that crashed was among those purchased in fly away condition or had been manufactured in India.
