MiG-21 crashes in Himachal, pilot dead (Second Lead)
Wednesday - July 18, 2018 6:16 pm ,
Category : INDIA
MiG-21 crashes in Himachal, pilot dead (Second Lead)
Shimla July 18 (IANS) A MiG-21 fighter jet of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed on Wednesday during a test flight in Himachal Pradesh s Kangra district killing its pilot officials said.
Squadron Leader Meet Kumar had last year featured in a promotional video clip in which he shared his love and passion for the MiG aircraft.
Kangra Superintendent of Police Santosh Patial told IANS that the aircraft crashed in Patta Jatian village in Jawali area around 70 km from Dharamsala town.
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tweeted to confirm and condole the pilot s death. A court of inquiry has been ordered.
"We express deep grief at the martyrdom of a brave air warrior. At 1220 hrs today a MiG-21 of @IAF_MCC airborne from Pathankot Airfield for a test crashed near Pathankot. Our heartfelt condolences to the family of brave pilot Sqadron Leader Meet Kumar who we lost in the fateful crash " she added.
According to IAF officers two air force choppers reached the spot and airmen carried out an investigation.
On June 5 an IAF Jaguar fighter jet had crashed in Kutch in Gujarat soon after takeoff killing the pilot.
In February IAF Wing Commanders Dushyant Vats who too had featured in a similar promotional video had lost his life in a microlight aircraft crash in Assam along with Wing Commander Jai Paul James.
--IANS vg/tsb/mr
Squadron Leader Meet Kumar had last year featured in a promotional video clip in which he shared his love and passion for the MiG aircraft.
Kangra Superintendent of Police Santosh Patial told IANS that the aircraft crashed in Patta Jatian village in Jawali area around 70 km from Dharamsala town.
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tweeted to confirm and condole the pilot s death. A court of inquiry has been ordered.
"We express deep grief at the martyrdom of a brave air warrior. At 1220 hrs today a MiG-21 of @IAF_MCC airborne from Pathankot Airfield for a test crashed near Pathankot. Our heartfelt condolences to the family of brave pilot Sqadron Leader Meet Kumar who we lost in the fateful crash " she added.
According to IAF officers two air force choppers reached the spot and airmen carried out an investigation.
On June 5 an IAF Jaguar fighter jet had crashed in Kutch in Gujarat soon after takeoff killing the pilot.
In February IAF Wing Commanders Dushyant Vats who too had featured in a similar promotional video had lost his life in a microlight aircraft crash in Assam along with Wing Commander Jai Paul James.
--IANS vg/tsb/mr
