IAF aircraft catches fire, trainee pilot and co-passenger escape unhurt, inquiry launched

Hyderabad: A Kiran trainer aircraft crashed in Telangana on Thursday morning, but the pilot and another person on board ejected out safely. [caption id=“attachment_4091903” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] IAF trainer aircraft caught fire during training session.  PTI[/caption] The aircraft got airborne from Hakimpet Air Force base on Thursday morning for a routine training sortie, and crashed around 11.45 am. The aircraft was being flown by a trainee pilot. IAF sources added that a court of inquiry has been ordered to look into the cause of the accident. According to police, the aircraft caught fire and was gutted after the crash near Ankireddypalli village in Keesara ‘mandal’ (block) of Medchal district. Minutes after taking off from Hakimpet Air Force station, the aircraft developed some technical snag and crashed in the fields. Eye-witnesses said they heard a huge thud and soon flames engulfed the aircraft. The pilot and another person accompanying him ejected out with parachutes before the crash, police said.