Vasco (Goa): In the first ever major tragedy involving recently inducted Naval version of MiG29K fighter aircraft, the craft today veered off the runway and crashed 150 metres at the side before catching the fire this afternoon inside INS Hansa base at Vasco, Goa.
Naval officials said that the pilot ejected to safety after the smoke started emanating from the aircraft before it caught fire.
“The pilot is safe. Actually what happened when pilot was taking off, there was some malfunction in the aircraft which now we will have to investigate,” Real Admiral Punit K Bahl, Flag Officer Commanding Goa Area (FOGA) said.
He said due to the malfunction the aircraft could not take off and with the result the pilot continued in the direction of take off and left the runwaway at the other end.
“The pilot crossed over the other end and luckily the aircraft then retarded and about 150 metres of the edge of runway he turned left and stopped there. After that the pilot descended from canopy and he came out of the aircraft and there was little fire and smoke at the aircraft, which is now put under the control,” he said.
“This is the first main incident of the MiG29K since the time it was inducted,” Bahl said.
The incident happened at the Northern end of the runway in INS Hansa base which is also home for state’s lone Dabolim airport.
The naval official said “it is too premature to say whether this was human eor machine error because we have to do investigation which will take some time.”
Bahl said that the investigation will depend on the evidences like flight data recorder and video recording to come to the conclusion.
“As of now what we know is that the aircraft had malfunction apparently and then it continued. What is the malfunction which we will have to know only after the inquiry,” he said.
“What is the source of error whether it is machine or something else, we will come to know after inquiry,” he added.
The incident happened ten minutes before the civilian aircraft was scheduled to land at the airport, Goa airport director B C H Negi said. He said that the operations at the airport were suspended after 12.30 but resumed at around 1.40 p.m.
The Russian make MiG29K were inducted in the forces on May 11, 2016 after decommissioning Sea Harriers. The flights are currently integrated on-board aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya and performs the role of strike fighter and air defence for the fleet in the Indian Navy.
