A disturbing incident involving an Indian Air Force (IAF) MiG-29 fighter jet unfolded in Uttar Pradesh’s Agra, as a video capturing the moments before the crash rapidly spread across social media. The footage depicts the aircraft spiraling uncontrollably in a flat spin before plummeting to the ground and erupting into flames upon impact.
The crash occurred on Saturday while the MiG-29 was conducting a routine training sortie. Witnesses identified a significant number of individuals gathering at the crash site, which was subsequently cordoned off by military personnel to secure the area and ensure safety. Initial investigations by the IAF pointed to a “system malfunction” as the cause of the accident.
A statement from the IAF on social media platform X addressed the crash, highlighting the pilot’s commendable actions to mitigate potential damage. “A MiG-29 aircraft of the IAF crashed near Agra during a routine training sortie today, after encountering a system malfunction,” the statement read. “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.”
Fortunately, the pilot successfully ejected from the aircraft, steering it away from populated areas to avoid any casualties. Local residents claim that the pilot was later seen parachuting into the nearby Baha village.
This incident marks a troubling trend for the IAF, as it closely follows another MiG-29 crash that took place on September 2 in Barmer, Rajasthan, attributed to a “critical technical snag.” Notably, the MiG-29, which was developed by the USSR in 1983, has been in service with the Indian Air Force since its acquisition in 1987 and has undergone several technological upgrades.
The IAF has also recently faced incidents involving other aircraft types, including a crash of a Sukhoi 30 MKI near Shirasgaon village in Maharashtra’s Nashik district on June 4, where both pilots were able to eject safely. The frequency of such incidents raises questions about the maintenance and operational readiness of the aging aircraft fleet within the IAF. An extensive inquiry into the latest crash is expected to delve deeper into the circumstances leading to this alarming event.
