Unidentified aircraft crashes in Bathinda; civilian killed, 9 hurt

A civilian was killed and nine others injured when an unidentified aircraft crashed and caught fire in Aklia Kalan village of Bathinda district in the early hours of Wednesday.

The deceased has been identified as Govind, a farm labourer from Charkhi Dadri in Haryana. The crash occurred around 1.30 am in harvested wheat fields, about 500 m from the nearest residential area. According to eyewitnesses, several farm labourers were at the local grain market late Tuesday night when they saw an aircraft flying unusually low. Moments later, it crashed into the fields.

As some villagers approached the burning wreckage, an explosion occurred, killing Govind on the spot and injuring nine others.

Authorities have cordoned off the area, and an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash and the identity of the aircraft. There is no official word yet from the Ministry of Defence, the Indian Air Force or the Army.

An eyewitness claimed that both pilots ejected safely and landed in Ganga village, located 5-6 km from the crash site. “One part of the aircraft fell in another area of the village, while the other landed in the fields,” he said.

“Thankfully, the aircraft crashed in the fields. A major tragedy was averted,” said a villager.