A MiG-21 aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed in the wee hours of Friday near Moga Punjab, officials said. The pilot of the aircraft reportedly ejected the aircraft before the crash.
The pilot, Squadron Leader Abhinav Choudhary sustained fatal injuries. “There was an aircraft accident last night involving a Bison aircraft of IAF in the western sector. The pilot, Squadron Leader Abhinav Choudhary, sustained fatal injuries. IAF condoles the tragic loss and stands firmly with the bereaved family,” read an IAF statement.
Locals of the Langeana village, where the jet crashed, said that they heard a loud noise soon after the crash. As per the reports, the aircraft took off from Halwara airbase and was going towards Suratgarh in Rajasthan. A court of inquiry has been ordered to find the cause of the accident.
In January, a MiG-21 had crashed near Suratgarh in Rajasthan. But there was no loss of life as the pilot had ejected safely.
