Indian Air Force MiG-29 crashes near Agra, pilot ejects safely

New Delhi: An Indian Air Force (IAF) MiG-29 fighter jet crashed on Monday near Agra during a routine sortie after encountering a system malfunction.

“A MiG-29 aircraft crashed near Agra during a routine training sortie today, after encountering a system malfunction. The pilot manoeuvered the aircraft to ensure no damage to life or property on ground, before ejecting safely,” an IAF spokesperson said here.

An enquiry has been ordered by the IAF, to ascertain the cause of the accident.

This is the second MiG-29 crash in two months as another MiG-29 crashed at Barmer on Septemebr 3 because of a critical technical snag. Fortunately, the pilot could eject successfully.

Notwithstanding the two crashes in quick succession, the IAF’s overall accident record has improved in the last decade compared to the previous one.

Between 2012-13 and 2021-22, there had been 75 crashes of IAF aircraft as against 165 accidents between 2001-02 and 2011-12, according to a compilation of official records submitted by the Defence Ministry in the Parliament.