Mig-29 fuel tank jettisons on runway, causes minor fire

Visakhapatnam: A minor fire broke out on the runway of INS Dega when a fuel drop tank of a Mig-29K jettisoned accidentally while the plane was taking off on a routine training sortie on Monday, officials said.

INS Dega is a Naval air station in Visakhapatnam.

The fire was quickly doused by the ground support staff and no injuries or damage was reported, said officials, adding that the incident is being investigated.

Navy sources said one of the fuel tanks got detached while the aircraft was taking off at about 10 a.m. causing a "minor fire".

The aircraft was directed to jettison the other fuel tank at sea, but due to malfunction in the system, it did not happen.

When the aircraft was coming back for landing, it jettisoned on its own in an area near the Naval base.

These tanks are additional fuel tanks on the wings of the aircraft. The second tank had to be dropped for safe landing, said sources.