3 Villagers Dead As MiG-21 Jet Crashes Into Rajasthan Home, Pilot Ejects

Three people were killed and three others injured after an Indian Air Force MiG-21 Fighter aircraft crashed into a house in a Rajasthan village today, officials have said.

The aircraft had taken off from the Suratgarh airbase for a routine exercise when it crashed near Bahlol Nagar in Rajasthan's Hanumangarh due to a technical snag.

The pilot ejected from the aircraft in time and he is reported to be safe.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) said a helicopter was rushed to rescue the pilot who sustained minor injuries.

"The pilot experienced an onboard emergency, following which he attempted to recover the aircraft as per existing procedures. Having failed to do so, he initiated an ejection," it said in a statement.

The IAF said a probe has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the crash. "A MiG-21 aircraft of the IAF crashed near Suratgarh during a routine training sortie today morning. An inquiry has been constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident."

A MiG-21 aircraft of the IAF crashed near Suratgarh during a routine training sortie today morning. The pilot ejected safely, sustaining minor injuries.
An inquiry has been constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident.

— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) May 8, 2023

Recounting the incident, a local said he heard a loud sound and saw a parachute coming down. Within seconds, a plane crashed into the house of Ratti Ram, killing his wife and two other women - Leela Devi and Banto Kaur, the news agency PTI quoted him as saying. 

"The villagers tried to douse the flames with the help of water and sand before the police and fire brigade reached the spot," an official said.

Police said a rescue operation has been launched in the area where the aircraft had crashed.

"The pilot made all efforts to avert human casualties and crash-landed the plane on the outskirts of the village," said Om Prakash, Inspector General of Police, Bikaner.

In January, two IAF fighter jets - a Sukhoi Su-30 and a Mirage 2000 - had crashed during a training exercise, resulting in the death of one pilot. While one aircraft crashed in Morena in Madhya Pradesh, the other went down 100 km away in Rajasthan's Bharatpur.