A MiG-21 fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed on Monday near Hanumangarh in Rajasthan during a routine training sortie. The aircraft had taken off from Suratgarh. While the pilot and co-pilot were able to safely eject from the aircraft, the plane crashed into a house, causing the death of three civilians.
According to a statement from the IAF, the pilot experienced an onboard emergency shortly after takeoff and attempted to recover the aircraft before initiating an ejection. The pilot sustained minor injuries during the ejection and was recovered about 25 kilometers northeast of the Suratgarh base. A Court of Inquiry has been constituted to determine the cause of the accident.
The aircraft wreckage fell on a house in Bahlol Nagar in Hanumangarh District, resulting in the loss of three lives. The IAF expressed regret over the incident and offered its condolences to the families of the deceased. Inspector General of the Bikaner range, Om Prakash, stated that the pilot made all efforts to avoid human casualties and crash-landed the plane on the outskirts of a village. Three women were killed in the incident and three others were injured.
Sudheer Chaudhary, Superintendent of Police in Hanumangarh, confirmed that the plane crashed into the house of a resident named Ratti Ram, resulting in the death of his wife Basho Kaur, and two other women identified as Leela Devi and Banto Kaur. The women suffered burn injuries, according to PTI.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud sound and seeing a parachute before the plane crashed into the house. Residents immediately attempted to extinguish the fire with water and sand. The injured women were taken to a nearby hospital, and police and fire brigade officials arrived on the scene soon after the incident occurred.