Mig-29 Fighter Jet's Fuel Tank Dislodges From Aircraft Mid-Air, Falls In Forest Area In Kolkata

The drop tank of IAF's Mig-29 was being brought to the Kalaikunda airbase in coordination with the civil administration while an investigation is underway to find out the reason.

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An additional fuel tank of a MiG-29 aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) got dislodged during a training session on Monday and fell in a forest area near the Kalaikunda base in West Bengal's Paschim Medinipur district, a defence official said. There was no loss of life or damage to property as a result of the incident, he said. The MiG-29 aircraft was on a routine training mission.

"While returning to Kalaikunda airbase, ventral drop tank which is used to carry additional fuel got dislodged and fell into an uninhabited forest," the defence official said.
The drop tank was being brought to the Kalaikunda airbase in coordination with the civil administration, he said. An investigation was started to find out the cause of the incident, the official said.

Meanwhile, in another update, Indian Air Force (IAF) has grounded the entire fleet of MiG-21 fighter aircraft. According to the IAF, until tests are completed and the causes of the incident over Rajasthan are known, the aircraft will be grounded. The MiG-21, which has a dubious safety record, is the oldest fighter jet still in use in India. Due to the fighter's numerous collisions over the past five decades, it is also known as the "Flying Coffin" and the "Widow Maker."