Parts of an IAF aircraft were discovered in an agricultural field in a hamlet in Uttar Pradesh on Monday, news agency ANI reported. After two fuel tank-like components were retrieved from an agricultural field in Balushasan village, Sant Kabir Nagar district, police quickly sealed off the area. The incident caused no injuries or property damage.
The Indian Air Force verified that the fuel tanks belonged to one of its fighter aircraft that was flying on a training flight. According to the IAF, the fighter jet had a technical problem, prompting the removal of external storage.
“A fighter aircraft was airborne for a training mission from Gorakhpur. The aircraft experienced a technical malfunction which necessitated jettisoning of external stores. There was no damage to life or property in the process,” IAF was quoted by ANI on its official Twitter handle.
According to Superintendent of Police Satyajeet Gupta, the IAF was told about the artefacts discovered in a field in Banjaria Balushasan hamlet, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Khalilabad police station.
He stated that an IAF team will soon arrive at the location and determine the next line of action.
According to the authority, the area has been sealed off.
According to sources, the plane is a Jaguar.
When contacted afterwards, an IAF officer in Delhi stated that the removal of "external stores" was done for "operational reasons."
“The aircraft took off from Gorakhpur on Monday. However, it had to jettison some of its external store elements for its safety,” the IAF official told PTI.
Prayagraj-based Central Air Command later also tweeted about the incident.
“A fighter aircraft was airborne for a training mission from Gorakhpur. The aircraft experienced technical malfunction which necessitated jettisoning of external stores. There was no damage to life or property in the process,” it said.