Pilot dies as MiG-21 crashes in Himachal’s Kangra

Lalit Mohan

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Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, July 18

A MiG-21 fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force on Wednesday crashed at Patta Jatian village in Jawali area of Kangra district, killing the pilot. 

The aircraft, which was on a routine sortie, crashed at around 1.20 pm, about an hour after taking off from Pathankot air base on a routine sortie, an IAF spokesperson said.

Squadron Leader Meet Kumar, who was flying the Russian origin MiG 21 Bis aircraft died in the accident, he said, adding a Court of Inquiry (COI) has been ordered into it.

Kangra SP Santosh Patial said the crash occurred around 1.20 pm. The police officer said later that the deceased pilot's tissues were found at the crash site.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman expressed “deep grief” over death of the pilot. “Our heartfelt condolences to the family of brave pilot Sqn Ldr Meet Kumar, who we lost in the fateful crash,” she said.

The MiG-21 jets were inducted into IAF over four decades back and many of these planes were lost in crashes.

Currently the IAF has only one squadron (18 aircraft) of the variant which the force is planning to retire in the next one-and-half to two years.

The villagers were the first to report the crash to the authorities. Ramesh, a villager at the spot, said they heard a loud sound and rushed out of their houses.

Later, they found that a plane had crashed and its remains had spread over 2 square km. A large number of villagers gathered at the spot.

Two IAF helicopters landed at the crash site with Air Force personnel who conducted preliminary investigations. — With agency inputs