Freak accident: MiG-27 debris leave pillion rider injured

A MiG-27 fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force on Tuesday crashed in Barmer district of north Indian state of Rajasthan but the pilot ejected safely.

The crash which occured at a place, about 8 kms from Barmer city, left a motorcyclist injured. Barmer district in the western part of the state shares border with Pakistan.

Air Force sources said the crash occurred at about 1510 hours. The pilot ejected safely but a civilian was injured and his motorcycle got damaged in the incident, they said.

“The plane was on a routine sortie from Jodhpur airbase to Uttarlai airbase in Barmer when it crashed,” Defence Spokesperson Lt Col Manish Ojha said over phone from Jodhpur. 

“The pilot bailed out safely and was taken to a hospital,” he said.

Superintendent of Police Barmer Anil Paris Deshmukh said a man who was on a motorcycle was injured in the incident.

“The man got hit by a burning portion of the plane which crashed at Seokar Road near Mahabar village,” he said.

The police control room said that the injured local civilian, identified as Loon Singh, has been admitted to the district hospital.

The Defence Spokesperson added that a court of inquiry has been ordered.