IAF Sukhoi Su-30MKI crashes near Pune, pilots safe

An Indian Air Force Sukhoi SU-30MKI fighter plane crashed near Pune on Tuesday.

Mumbai: An Indian Air Force Sukhoi SU-30MKI fighter plane crashed at village Theoor ​near Pune at 5:30 PM on Tuesday.

The Su-MK30I jet crashed after it off from Pune's Lohegaon IAF base.

Fortunatley both the pilots flying the fighter aircraft ejected in time and are safe.

Nineteen fighter aircraft of the IAF have met with accidents in the last three years, with human error and technical defects being the main reasons, Defence Minister told Parliament in July this year.

According to the minister, the fighter planes that met with accident in the last three years include eight MiG-21s (different versions), three Jaguars, three MiG-29s, two Sukhoi SU-30MKIs, two Mirage 2000 and one MiG 27 ML.

Nine accidents took place in 2011-12, four in 2012-13, five in 2013-14 and one in 2014-15.