Navy’s MiG-29K jet crashes near Goa village, pilots eject to safety

PTI reported that the aircraft was on a regular training sortie when the incident occurred. A villager informed the news agency that the aircraft crashed on a rocky plateau on the outskirts of Verna, 15 kms from the state capital, around noon.

The pilots Capt M Sheokhand and Lt Cdr Deepak Yadav ejected safely

The Ministry of Defence Spokesperson said the trainer aircraft suffered an engine fire. “During a training mission, after take-off from INS HANSA at Dabolim a Mig 29k trainer aircraft suffered an engine fire. The pilots Capt M Sheokhand and Lt Cdr Deepak Yadav ejected safely,” he added.

Union Defence Ministry Rajnath Singh prayed for the well-being of the pilots. “Spoke to pilots, Captain M Sheokhand and Lt Commander Deepak Yadav. It is a matter of great satisfaction that they managed to eject in time and both of them are safe. I pray for their good health and well-being,” he was quoted as saying by ANI.

The Ministry of Defence Spokesperson said the trainer aircraft suffered an engine fire.

Taking to Twitter, the Indian Navy spokesperson said, “During a training mission, after take-off from INS Hansa at Dabolim a MIG29K trainer aircraft suffered an engine fire. The pilots Capt M Sheokhand and Lt Cdr Deepak Yadav ejected safely”.

During a training mission, after take off from INS HANSA at Dabolim a Mig 29k trainer aircraft suffered an engine fire. The pilots Capt M Sheokhand and Lt Cdr Deepak Yadav ejected safely. @SpokespersonMoD

— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) November 16, 2019

“At about noon, a MIG-29K twin seater aircraft, on a routine training sortie, encountered a flock of birds after take off from the INS Hansa airbase at Dabolim in Goa. The pilot observed that the left engine had flamed out and the right engine had caught fire. Attempts to recover the aircraft were unsuccessful due to damage and low height. The pilot, showing the presence of mind, pointed the aircraft away from populated areas and both pilots ejected safely. An enquiry has been instituted by the Navy. Both the pilots are safe. There has been no loss of life or damage to property on ground,” a defence release was quoted as saying by PTI.

(With PTI inputs)