MIG-24 fighter jet crashes near Agra, no casualties

A MIG-29 fighter jet crashed in Agra’s Bagha Sonigha village in the Kagarol police station area in Uttar Pradesh during a routine training sortie around 5pm Monday after encountering a system malfunction, said a senior official of the Indian Air Force. There have been no casualties as the pilot maneuvered the aircraft to ensure that there was no damage to life or property and ejected it safely, he added.

“The pilot and co-pilot have been rescued and admitted to the district hospital,” said Devesh Singh, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Sainya), Agra. He added that he is at the site of the accident and a rescue operation is currently underway at the spot.

“There was a huge fire after the crash and we are trying to douse the fire,” said Kagarol Station House Officer. He said the plane had taken off from Adampur in Punjab and was en route to Agra to participate in an exercise when the plane allegedly crashed in a farm.

An enquiry has been initiated to find out the exact cause of the accident, the senior official said.