Air show suspended temporarily following IJT mishap

Bangalore, Feb 8 (UNI) The air show at the ongoing Aero India 2007 international exposition was temporarily suspended following an accident, in which an Intermediate Jet Trainer of public sector Hindustan Aeronautics Limited strayed off the main runway during the show, this afternoon.

The incident happened when the trainer, which was about to take off, overshot the runway, resulting in bursting of one of its tyres.

Wing Commander Baldev Singh, who was piloting the aircraft, immediately shut off the engine and emerged out of the cockpit without any injury. The aircraft fell on one side and there was slight damage to the right side of the wing.

The IJT aerial display was to be followed by a scintillating display by the indigenously produced fly-by-wire Light Combat Aircraft 'Tejas'.

According to Aero India organisers, the runway had been cleared after some time.

An ALH helicopter of the Sarang aerobatic team crashed on February 2 during rehearsal for the air show, killing the co-pilot and seriously injuring the pilot.

UNI