Punjab: MIG- 21 Bison fighter aircraft crashes near Moga, pilot dead

Chandigarh: A MIG-21 Bison fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed at Langeana village near Moga late Thursday night.The pilot, identified as Squadron Leader Abhinav Choudhary, lost his life in the crash. 

According to the trusted sources, the pilot was able to jump out of the aircraft but the parachute failed to open while he was in the air.

The aircraft had taken off from Suratgarh in Rajasthan for Jagraon and was returning to Suratgarh after a routine training sortie when the accident took place, IAF sources said.A court of inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of crash, they added.

On getting the news, all senior police officials of the district, IAF officials from Bathinda and Halwara and a medical team reached the spot. After an intensive search of four hours, the body of the pilot was found nearly two km away from the crash site.

"There was an aircraft accident last night involving a Bison aircraft of IAF in the western sector. The pilot, Sqn Ldr Abhinav Choudhary, sustained fatal injuries. IAF condoles the tragic loss and stands firmly with the bereaved family," IAF said in a tweet.The IAF aircraft was on a routine training sortie when the mishap occurred.(UNI)