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Two IAF jets crash; one pilot killed

One pilot was killed while another ejected to safety as two Indian Air Force MiG-21 fighter planes crashed after taking off from the air base in Srinagar today.

While initial reports said that the two warplanes had collided in mid-air, air headquarters clarified that at no time had the two aircraft met in the air.

One of the MiGs, piloted by Flying Officer G S Dhinsa reportedly had control difficulties after take-off at around 1330 hrs, swerved to the left and crashed, killing the officer. The pilot of the other MiG, Flt Lt Deswal, who had taken off right after Dhinsa, ejected out of the plane apparently because the proximity to the other plane left him with no other option.

There was no question of a collision as Flt Lt Deswal since was well behind, an IAF spokesperson said in New Delhi. A court of inquiry has been ordered to look into the crashes.

Chief of Air Staff A Y Tipnis expressed grief at the death of Flying Officer Dhinsa.

Official sources here said Dhinsa was directed by the control tower to eject after his plane developed a technical snag. But before he could do so, there was a loud explosion and the plane crashed. There was a gap of about a thousand yards between the two fighters, the sources said.

Four other MiGs have crashed since June in various parts of the country.

UNI

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