Indian Mini UAV Accidentally Crosses LoC, Lands In Pakistan During Training Mission

A Mini UAV on a training mission well crossed the Line of Control (LoC) from Rajouri sector in Jammu and Kashmir and landed in Pakistan on Friday, the Indian Army said in a statement.

"At 9.25 am, a Mini UAV on a training mission well within the Indian Territory lost control due to a technical malfunction and drifted into the Nikial Sector of Pakistan opposite our Bhimber Gali Sector.

As per media inputs, the Pakistan troops have recovered the same. A hotline message has been sent to the Pakistan Army to return the said UAV," the statement read.

Two days ago, an Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter aircraft experienced a technical malfunction, leading to the unintentional release of an "air store" near the Pokhran firing range in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer district.

The object was a practice bomb meant for training exercises in precision bombing on designated targets. Upon its release, the practice bomb fell in an open area, causing an explosion and leaving a crater at the impact site near the Pakistan border.

Fortunately, no casualties or property damage were reported. An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the technical malfunction that led to the unintended release of the air store.

In fighter jets, an air store refers to any external equipment or payload that can be attached to the aircraft for various missions.

Social media images revealed a small crater at the site where the air store landed. A local police official from Ramdevra police station reported that villagers, about a kilometer away, heard a loud bang and discovered debris from the object at the site.

This incident is reminiscent of a previous accident two years ago when an unarmed BrahMos missile was accidentally fired into Pakistan. A subsequent Court of Inquiry found that deviations from Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) by three officers were responsible for the mishap.

The IAF has launched an investigation into the recent malfunction to identify the causes and prevent similar incidents in the future.