Raj: IAF Sukhoi fighter jet crashes, pilot killed

Jaisalmer, Apr 30: India's most advanced combat aircraft, Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft crashed near Jaisalmer on Thursday, Apr 30 killing one of the two Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot.

This is the first time that a Sukhoi-30 MKI, a frontline fighter plane, has crashed. The incident occurred near Rajmathai village at around 1020 hours. The squadron which is based in Pune was on their routine exercise when the incident occurred. The pilots ejected before the jet crashed.

District officials said that both the pilots were holding the rank of wing commander. Wing Commander S V Munje, survived but the navigator, Wing Commander P S Narah succumbed to his injuries.

This is the first crash of a Su-30MKI, which was inducted into the IAF in 1997. The IAF operates three squadrons (approximately 55 aircraft) of the jet, which is being manufactured under license in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

OneIndia News