International Desk

A MiG-21 fighter jet of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed in a village in the northwestern Indian state of Rajasthan this morning leaving three civilians dead and several others injured on the ground.

According to reports, the aircraft had taken off from the Suratgarh airbase for a routine exercise when it crashed near Bahlol Nagarin Rajasthan's Hanumangarh due to a technical snag. Rescue operations are underway.

In a statement, Indian Air Force said, "A MiG-21 aircraft of the IAF crashed near Suratgarh during a routine training sortie this morning. The pilot ejected safely, sustaining minor injuries. An inquiry has been constituted so ascertain the cause of the incident."

Later, Indian Defence Ministry in a statement said that the aircraft had got airborne for a routine operational training sortie from the Air Force Station at Suratgarh.

"Soon thereafter, the pilot experienced an onboard emergency, following which he attempted to recover the aircraft as per existing procedures. Having failed to do so, he initiated an ejection, sustaining minor injuries in the process. The pilot was recovered from about 25 kilometres North East of Suratgarh base," it said.

According to the statement, the aircraft wreckage fell on a house in Bahlol Nagar in Hanumangarh District, unfortunately leading to the loss of three lives.

"The IAF regrets the loss of lives and offers its deepest condolences to the bereaved families. A Court of Inquiry has been constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident."

Recounting the incident, a local said he heard a loud sound and saw a parachute coming down. Within seconds, a plane crashed into the house of Ratti Ram, killing his wife and two other women-- Leela Devi and Banto Kaur, the news agency PTI quoted him as saying.

A large number of villagers gathered at the crash site and alerted the Pilibanga police.

According to ANI reports, one pilot was killed after two Indian Air Force fighter jets-- a Sukhoi Su-30 and a Mirage 2000-- crashed during a training exercise in Rajasthan's Bharatpur in January last.

Besides, an Indian Army Chopper crashed in Jammu and Kashmir last week and another accident was happened in Kochi in April when a helicopter of Indian Coast Guard made a crash landing during trials. A Chopper of the Indian Navy had "ditched" after performing VVIP duties in Mumbai last March and in October two incidents of army chopper crash were reported in Indian Arunachal Pradesh.

In July 28 last year, two pilots in a twin-seater MiG-21 training aircraft succumbed to death after sustaining fatal injuries when it crashed near Barmer district of Rajasthan, the ANI reports added.