A day after a MiG-29 fighter jet of the Indian Air Force crashed in a field near Uttar Pradesh's Agra, videos capturing moments before it hit the ground are going viral on social media. The footage captured the aircraft hurtling towards the ground as the pilot parachutes down into nearby Baha village.
In the video, the MiG-29 is seen falling fast in a tailspin as it plunged to the ground in Sunega village, before bursting into flames. A tailspin is a dangerous and potentially life-threatening flight condition that occurs when an aircraft enters rapid descent in a steep spiral.
The incident occurred on Monday during a routine training sortie after it encountered a system malfunction. Fortunately, no casualty was reported due to the crash. The pilot manoeuvred the aircraft to ensure no damage to life or property on the ground before ejecting safely, the IAF said, adding, that a Court of Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the crash.
"A MiG-29 aircraft of the IAF crashed near Agra during a routine training sortie today, after encountering a system malfunction. The pilot manoeuvred the aircraft to ensure no damage to life or property on the ground, before ejecting safely. An enquiry has been ordered by the IAF, to ascertain the cause of the accident," the IAF posted on X.
A large number of curious onlookers gathered near the crash site in the field which was later cordoned off by the military personnel. Other visuals also emerged on social media platforms showing the fuselage of the crashed jet engulfed in flames and smoke billowing from the wreckage.
Before Monday's accident, the last crash of a MiG-29 fighter jet happened on September 2 in Rajasthan's Barmer due to a "critical" technical snag. The pilot had ejected safely and no loss of life was reported.