Suryakiran crash lands at B'lore airport, pilots safe

Bangalore, Aug 21: A Suryakiran jet trainer belonging to the the Indian Air Force crash landed at the HAL Bangalore Airport here today.

Air Traffic Control officials said Flight No U695, on a routine training sortie, was approaching the runway for landing at 1610 hrs when its front wheel failed to open up, resulting in the mishap.

However, both the pilot and the co-pilot, a trainee, escaped unhurt.

They said the front portion of the aircraft suffered extensive damage. The airport authorities removed the plane from the runway using a crane.

It may be recalled that on March 18, two pilots had been killed in a mid-air collision between two Suryakirans during a routine sortie near Bidar Air Force Base.

UNI