IAF's Sukhoi 30 crashes in Rajasthan, pilots safe

Jaisalmer, February 19, 2013: A Sukhoi 30 aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed in Jaisalmer district on Monday but the two pilots inside it, bailed out safely.

"There was no loss of life or damage to property on the ground,” defence spokesperson S. D. Goswami said.

The aircraft was to participate in IAF’s day-night exercise Iron Fist on 22nd February.

Superintendent of Police (Jaisalmer) Mamta Bishnoi said the crash took place in Chandan firing range.

It is the second crash involving IAF aircraft since January this year and the fifth since last April.

A MiG 27 warplane had crashed last week in the western sector but its pilot had ejected safely.

Since their induction into IAF in the late 1990s, this is the fourth crash involving an SU-30 fighter plane.

So far, the Air Force has inducted Russian-origin 160 SU-30 planes.

Another 112 such aircraft are to be inducted into IAF in phases.