New Delhi: Indian Air Force (IAF) has grounded the entire fleet of its frontline Sukhoi-30MKI fighter aircraft after one of the jets crashed in Rajasthan.
The fleet has been grounded for precautionary checks with the IAF seeking the help of Russia and the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to investigate Monday's crash at Pokhran where two pilots just managed to eject safely.
Reacting to the grounding of the entire of Sukhoi-30MKI fleet Minister for State for Defence MM Pallam Raju said it has been done as a precautionary measure.
"Whenever a crash happens just to be on the cautious side we ground them to conduct the court of inquiry first and after we ascertain that there is nothing wrong we resume the flying," said Raju.
The aircraft, belonging to the 31 Squadron and participating in a fire power demonstration had, had taken off from Bareilly Air Force Base.
A Sukhoi had also crashed in April 2009 which was attributed to a technical fault.
Even in that case the pilot, Wing Commander SV Munje, and the co-pilot, Wing Commander PS Narah, had managed to bail out in time.
But Wing Commander PS Narah was killed after being apparently hit by the falling debris of the aircraft.
The Su-30MKI was inducted in 1996 and the IAF fleet currently has 98 such aircraft, which will rise to 230 by 2015.
Defence Minister AK Antony had informed Rajya Sabha a few days back that the IAF had lost 12 aircraft, including seven fighters, in 2009.
President Pratibha Patil had last month made a record becoming the world's first lady president to fly in a Sukhoi jet.
Comments
0 comment