MiG-21 crashes in Udhampur; Pilots feared dead

Jammu, May 22: A MiG-21 aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed in the Basantgarh area of Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district today, official sources said.

Army troops have been deployed to search the wreakage of the crashed aircraft, which was on a routine sortie, Defence sources said.

The aircraft lost contact with the air traffic controllor at 1130 hrs, sources said, fearing the pilots died in the mishap.

DIG Doda-Udhampur range L I Mohanty, when contacted, said, ''there are reports that a MiGg has crashed somewhere in Basantgarh area but it has not been confirmed because we have not found debris of the plane as yet.''

UNI