Mumbai: The Indian Navy’s MiG-29K trainer aircraft has been lost over the Arabian Sea on Thursday evening. The Navy stated one pilot has been saved while a search by surface and air units are in progress for the other pilot.
The occurrence took place at around 5 pm in the Arabian Sea, it stated, adding that a high-level inquiry has been directed to investigate the matter.
The Indian Navy stated that a MiG-29K trainer aircraft operating at sea met with an accident at about 1700 hrs on 26 November. One pilot has been rescued and searches by surface and air units in progress for the second pilot. An inquiry has been directed to investigate the incident.
The Indian Navy has a fleet of more than 40 MiG-29K warrior aircraft based out of Goa and furthermore worked from the INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier.
One of the two pilots on board has been saved while the other pilot as of now is still missing.
A search activity via air and surface units is in progress to locate the other pilot.
The government has ordered an investigation into the occurrence which took place at around 5 p.m. on Thursday and further details are awaited.
This is the third mishap of MiG-29K aircraft in the previous one year.
In February this year, a MiG 29K crashed subsequent to being hit by birds over Goa. The two pilots had directed the jet away from habitation prior to ejecting, an action which brought praise from Union Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik.
In November of the previous year, a MiG-29K trainer aircraft crashed outside a village in Goa. The two pilots had then ejected securely.
with IANSinputs
