IAF Hawk trainer jet crashes; both pilots eject safely

04 August, New Delhi

A Hawk jet trainer aircraft Thursday crashed seconds after its taking-off from Kalaikunda airbase in West Bengal with both the pilots ejected safely.

The aircraft developed a snag after its taking-off and crashed at around 1100 hrs, an IAF spokesperson said. It crashed in the airbase boundary though there were no reports of damage on ground.

“Today at around 1100 hrs, a Hawk trainer aircraft from Kalaikunda developed a snag after its take-off resulting in safe ejection of both the pilots,” the spokesperson said.

This is second mishap the IAF has suffered after one of its transport aircraft had gone missing with 29 defence personnel on board. The search for the missing aircraft was still on with no concrete success so far.

The AN 32 had vanished on July 22 when it was on way to Port Blair from Chennai.