Hawk trainer crashes near Bidar in Karnataka

New Delhi, Apr 30 (UNI) A Hawk trainer aircraft crashed at Bidar Air Force Station in Karnataka while proceeding on a routine mission yesterday, an Indian Air Force (IAF) spokesman said today.

The Hawk, which was inducted into the IAF on February 23 this year with an aim to bring down the accident rate, crashed immediately after taking off at the Bidar Air Force Station at 1240 hrs.

Sources said that while one of the pilots ejected safely, his co-pilot also escaped unhurt since the aircraft was flying barely few feet above the ground.

The sources, however, said the advanced jet trainer, worth around Rs 85 crore, was damaged beyond repair.

The spokesman said no person was wounded or killed as a result of the accident. There was no damage to civil or other property, he added.

An inquiry has been ordered to investigate the reasons for the accident, the spokesman said.

According to initial agreement, the IAF is in the process of acquiring 66 Hawk aircraft of which ten have been already delivered. The crashed aircraft was part of that delivery.

UNI AG RL KP1946