The exact reason behind the crash is not yet known but, the trainee Pilot had managed to escape unhurt from the incident. The Fighter plane caught fire soon after crashing, the reason behind the crash is said to be an overshooting on Runway at Dabolim Naval Airport, in south Goa.
According to the reports, the MIG-29K is one of the most sophisticated fighter planes in the Navy Fleet, and the incident of crash has caused the Indian Navy to lose one them. The reports claimed that Trainee Pilot was in the plane at the time of the incident.
All the civilian flights coming to the Goa airport had been delayed due to this incident, the Goa airport, which actually belongs to Indian Navy, has been leased out to the Civilian flights. Although the operations had been resumed after a short break, the firefighting was still in progress. A statement from the Defence Ministry spokesperson said, the incident occurred when the fighter jet, manned by a trainee pilot, veered off the runway this afternoon.
According to the sources, This is the first MiG-29 to be lost by the navy which operates the jet off the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya.The fighter jet will also be deployed off the INS Vikrant, the first indigenous aircraft carrier being built for the Navy.
In a statement, the Navy said in New Delhi that a Board of Inquiry had been ordered to investigate the cause of the accident. According to Mr. Bahl This is the first main incident of the MiG 29K since the time it was inducted, Bahl said adding that It is too premature to say whether this was human or machine error, because we have to investigate, which will take some time, he added.
The Russian-made MiG 29K was inducted in the forces on May 11, 2016 after the decommissioning of the Sea Harriers. The aircraft is currently integrated on-board aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya and performs the role of strike fighter and air defence for the Navy. Eyewitnesses said the aircraft veered off the runway before it could take off.
