INDIA: AT LEAST 5 DEAD WHEN AN AIR FORCE MIG-23 FIGHTER FROM HALWARA AIR FORCE STATION CRASHED INTO THREE HOUSES IN MULLANPUA

Record ID: 1377081

  • Title: INDIA: AT LEAST 5 DEAD WHEN AN AIR FORCE MIG-23 FIGHTER FROM HALWARA AIR FORCE STATION CRASHED INTO THREE HOUSES IN MULLANPUA
  • Date: 4th April 2003
  • Summary: (EU) LUDHIANA, PUNJAB, INDIA (APRIL 4, 2003) (ANI) HAS/WS/MV: FIRE SAFETY OPERATIONS AT CRASH SITE. (2 SHOTS) VARIOUS: CRASHED DEBRIS OF PLANE; FIRE FIGHTERS; WHEEL OF PLANE; AIR FORCE PERSONNEL STANDING. (11 SHOTS) SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (Punjabi) BACHITAR SINGH, AN EYEWITNESS, SAYING "It was around 10.15 in the morning when the MIG crashed at our neighbour's house. Their family, and other relatives were there. I think around three are dead and four are serious in hospital." SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) ANURAAG AGGARWAL, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATIVE COMMISSIONER, SAYING "The MIG 23 that has crashed was on a training mission. It fell at about 10.20 or 10.25. The fire has been brought under control. At least five to six people have been killed and four to five people are still trapped inside the house. Hence the casualty (figure) is around 10. There is not much injury though." WS/MLV: DESTROYED HOUSES. (2 SHOTS)
  • Embargoed: 6th July 2005 21:50
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LUDHIANA, PUNJAB, INDIA
  • Country: India
  • Topics: Accidents
  • Reuters ID: LVA99LRN49XORBRBG55J0DBDKUDA
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: At least five people have been killed and two dozen injured when an Indian Air Force fighter jet crashed into three houses in a village in the northern state of Punjab.
    The pilot bailed out safely from the Russian-designed MIG-23 fighter which was on a routine training mission when it hit the houses in Mullanpua on Friday (April 4, 2003), just missing a nearby school.
    The single-seater plane crashed a short distance from where it had taken off at the Halwara Air Force Station, about 100 km (60 miles) northwest of the state capital, Chandigarh.
    An eyewitness said the incident occurred at around 10.15 in the morning.
    "It was around 10.15 in the morning when the MIG crashed at our neighbour's house. Their family, and other relatives were there. I think around three are dead and four are serious in hospital," said Bachitar Singh.
    Anuraag Aggarwal, Deputy Administrative Commissioner, said firemen fought for two hours to control a blaze caused by the crash.
    "The MIG 23 that has crashed was on a training mission. It fell at about 10.20 or 10.25. The fire has been brought under control. At least five to six people have been killed and four to five are still trapped inside the houses. Hence the casualty is around 10. There is not much injury though," he said.
    The reason for the accident was not immediately known.
    It was the third time since mid-2002 that an Indian combat jet has crashed into a residential area in the state. Last July, a MIG-21 ploughed into houses in Jalandhar, killing seven people on the ground. In November, a British-made Jaguar crashed into houses in Ambala killing four.
    India's air force, the world's fourth largest, has come under criticism for its safety record. Defence officials say at least 170 Russian-made MIG combat planes, the backbone of the air force, have been lost in accidents over the past decade.
  • Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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