New Delhi: Government on Wednesday said a total of
seven aircraft of the Indian Air Force have crashed in air
mishaps in the last six months.
"In the past six months from September 2009 to March 4,
2010, six fighter aircraft and one helicopter of the IAF
have crashed," Defence Minister A K Antony said in reply to a
Rajya Sabha query.
He added that the preliminary causes of the accidents
were human error and technical defects.
In 2010, the IAF has lost two fighter aircraft -- a
MiG-27 and a MiG-21. Last year, the IAF had recorded 11 air
mishaps, of which five involved MiG-21 aircraft.
The Minister said various measures were being taken to
reduce aircraft accidents.
Replying to another query, Antony said the prototype of
naval variant of Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) was being built
for the aircraft carriers and the project had lagged behind
due to various requirements related to the development of a
new fighter aircraft.
"Deficiencies have been detected in the airframe and
other associated equipment of the aircraft and the DRDO is
working with various organisations for rectifying these
deficiencies," he added.
PTI
