NEW DELHI, Nov 27: A MiG-29K trainer aircraft of the Indian Navy operating from the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya met with an accident over the Arabian sea on Thursday evening.
Indian Navy in a statement said, “One pilot recovered, and search by air and surface units is in progress for the second pilot. An inquiry has been ordered to investigate the incident. ”
This is the fourth crash in recent times involving MiG-29K aircraft. In February this year, a MiG29K aircraft which was on routine training sorties had crashed in Goa. However, the pilot was able to eject on time.
In November last year, a twin-seater MiG29K had crashed because of a bird hit after taking off from Goa naval air base. However, both pilots had ejected safely.
In January 2018, a MiG-29K crashed as it veered off the runaway at the INS Hansa base in Goa; the pilot escaped unharmed.
INS Vikramaditya has just finished phase two of the recent Malabar exercises involving the navies from US, Japan and Australia in the northern Arabian Sea.
(Manas Dasgupta)