After MiG, Jag: Ambala mishap kills IAF pilot

The IAF acquired the first batch of the Anglo-French production Jaguar aircraft in 1979. In fact, the IAF is acquiring 37 more of these aircraft from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which manufactures them under licence.

The fleet is also to undergo a mid-life upgrade, IAF sources said. The IAF has lost about 21 Jaguar aircraft since its induction, averaging about one a year. ‘‘The Jaguar has a very good flight safety record, we’ve had only five or six crashes in the past six years. We are still to confirm how this aircraft crashed this morning. The flight data recorder has been recovered and a court of inquiry will reveal the probable causes,’’ a ministry of defence (MoD) spokesman said. The chances of surviving a crash are low, since bailing out is not possible.

Since two squadrons of Jaguars are based at Ambala, the station has had its share of the accidents. With today’s crash, the toll has risen to three. 1999 was the worst year for the Jaguars when four of these aircraft were lost in Gorakhpur (2), Pune and Patiala.

‘‘Jaguars are among the best strike aircraft we have. It is armed with a number of bombs — cluster, freefall, retard and laser-guided and rockets. The aircraft carries the thermal imaging and laser designation pod. Its armaments include the Matra magic R 550 air tot air missile, air to surface missile among others,’’ officials said.