GORAKHPUR/LUCKNOW: A Jaguar fighter of the
Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed about 300 km away from the state capital at Hetampur under Kasia police station of
Kushinagar district on Monday. The pilot ejected safely in time after using his tactical expertise to land the plane away from habitation nearby.
The fighter crashed in forest area just 30-40 metre away from Hasya village at 12.30pm.
A court of enquiry has also been ordered to investigate the accident.
IAF officials reached the spot and inspected the wreckage site. Kushinagar district magistrate Anil Kumar Singh told TOI that
fighter aircraft crashed some 40 km away from the IAF airbase.
"The Jaguar aircraft was on a routine sortie from the
Gorakhpur air base. The pilot, Wing Commander Rohit
Katoch was flying the jet that developed a snag 10 minutes after take-off. Katoch used his tactical expertise to ensure that the plane does not hit village homes," added Singh.