27 May,2014 12:38 PM IST | | Agencies
A MiG-21 fighter plane of the Indian Air Force crashed in Kashmir on Tuesday morning, killing the pilot
Srinagar: A MiG-21 fighter plane of the Indian Air Force crashed in Kashmir Tuesday morning, killing the pilot.
The MiG-21 fighter plane, which was on a routine exercise, crashed in Marhama (Bijbehara) village of south Kashmir Anantnag district, 45 km from Srinagar Tuesday morning, defence sources said.
Pilot Raghu Bansi was killed in the crash, police said. The MIG-21 had taken off from Technical Airport here this morning, the sources said.
The cause of the crash was not immediately known. A team of IAF officials have rushed to the spot.
"Teams of army, IAF and state police have been rushed to the crash spot. Aerial recce of the crash site and surrounding areas has also been started," the official said.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed his condolences to the bereaved family of the pilot and suggested that the Centre address the defence procurement issue of the armed forces at the earliest.
"Not entirely disconnected from today's crash the new Govt needs to sort (out) defence procurement issue for Navy, Air Force & Army ASAP," he said on twitter.
Expressing grief over the death of the pilot in the crash, the Chief minister said, "My condolences to the family, friends & colleagues of the pilot killed in the MIG crash today. May his soul rest in peace."
