NEW DELHI, May 8, 2023 (BSS) - A MiG-21 fighter jet of the Indian Air Force 
(IAF) crashed in a village in the northwestern Indian state of Rajasthan this 
morning leaving three civilians dead and several others injured on the 
ground. 

According to reports, the aircraft had taken off from the Suratgarh airbase 
for a routine exercise when it crashed near Bahlol Nagarin Rajasthan's 
Hanumangarh due to a technical snag. Rescue operations are underway. 

In a statement, Indian Air Force said, "A MiG-21 aircraft of the IAF crashed 
near Suratgarh during a routine training sortie this morning. The pilot 
ejected safely, sustaining minor injuries. An inquiry has been constituted so 
ascertain the cause of the incident."

Later, Indian Defence Ministry in a statement said that the aircraft had got 
airborne for a routine operational training sortie from the Air Force Station 
at Suratgarh. 

"Soon thereafter, the pilot experienced an onboard emergency, following which 
he attempted to recover the aircraft as per existing procedures. Having 
failed to do so, he initiated an ejection, sustaining minor injuries in the 
process. The pilot was recovered from about 25 kilometres North East of 
Suratgarh base," it said.

According to the statement, the aircraft wreckage fell on a house in Bahlol 
Nagar in Hanumangarh District, unfortunately leading to the loss of three 
lives. 

"The IAF regrets the loss of lives and offers its deepest condolences to the 
bereaved families. A Court of Inquiry has been constituted to ascertain the 
cause of the accident." 
 
Recounting the incident, a local said he heard a loud sound and saw a 
parachute coming down. Within seconds, a plane crashed into the house of 
Ratti Ram, killing his wife and two other women-- Leela Devi and Banto Kaur, 
the news agency PTI quoted him as saying. 

A large number of villagers gathered at the crash site and alerted the 
Pilibanga police.

According to ANI reports, one pilot was killed after two Indian Air Force 
fighter jets-- a Sukhoi Su-30 and a Mirage 2000-- crashed during a training 
exercise in Rajasthan's Bharatpur in January last. 

Besides, an Indian Army Chopper crashed in Jammu and Kashmir last week and 
another accident was happened in Kochi in April when a helicopter of Indian 
Coast Guard made a crash landing during trials. A Chopper of the Indian Navy 
had "ditched" after performing VVIP duties in Mumbai last March and in 
October two incidents of army chopper crash were reported in Indian Arunachal 
Pradesh. 

In July 28 last year, two pilots in a twin-seater MiG-21 training aircraft 
succumbed to death after sustaining fatal injuries when it crashed near 
Barmer district of Rajasthan, the ANI reports added.