An Indian Air Force Su-30MKI fighter has crashed during a test flight in Nashik, western India.
The aircraft flew from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s Nashik facility, where it was undergoing overhaul and testing procedures.
The pilots, identified as Wing Commander Bokil and second-in-command Biswas managed to eject safely, sustaining only minor injuries. They were transferred to an HAL hospital for treatment.
Debris from the plane spread across a 500-meter (1,640 foot) radius, according to first responders.
HAL has stated that a “technical snag” was reported by the pilots. Preliminary investigations are underway to identify the cause of the crash.
A Su-30 MKI crashed while on test sortie from HAL Nashik at Sirsa gaon. Both the pilots of HAL have ejected to safety. A technical snag was reported by the pilots. The exact reason will only be known after detailed investigation.
— HAL (@HALHQBLR) June 4, 2024
Crashes in India
The incident has raised flight safety concerns in India, which has encountered multiple mishaps recently.
In March, an HAL Tejas plane crashed during a training sortie in northern India.
The crash was the first incident for a Tejas light combat aircraft since its introduction into the Indian Army in 2015.
In 2021, 13 people were killed when an Mi-17V5 chopper crashed in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, including then-defense chief Bipin Rawat.
Unexpected weather conditions were identified as the cause.
