Navy MiG trainer aircraft crashes in village at Goa, both pilots safe

An Indian Navy MiG trainer aircraft crashed at Dabolim village, Goa on Saturday (November 16) morning, a senior defence official said.

Philipose George Pynumootil, Indian Navy Flag Officer, Goa, Rear Admiral said that the aircraft was on a regular training sortie when the incident occurred.

He added that both the pilots ejected safely. According to media reports, they were taken care of by the residents in that area once they landed. They were identified as Lieutenant Commander Deepak Yadav and Captain M Sheokhand.

The official twitter handle for a spokesperson of the Indian Navy put out a tweet saying, “During a training mission, after take off from INS HANSA at Dabolim, a Mig 29k trainer aircraft suffered an engine fire…”

During a training mission, after take off from INS HANSA at Dabolim a Mig 29k trainer aircraft suffered an engine fire. The pilots Capt M Sheokhand and Lt Cdr Deepak Yadav ejected safely. @SpokespersonMoD

— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) November 16, 2019

Commander Vivek Madhwal, a Navy spokesperson confirmed to NDTV that the pilots had to eject because the engine caught fire. The reason behind the engine fire has not been confirmed yet, but sources claim it was because a bird had hit the aircraft.

The aircraft belongs to INS Hansa near Dabolim and is designated for aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya.