NEWS FLASH - MiG-27s grounded, IAF orders checks

 

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NEW DELHI: IAF has "grounded'' its MiG-27 fleet for checks after one of the 'swing-wing' strike fighters crashed in West Bengal on February 16. Preliminary reports indicate the `failure of low-pressure turbine blades', which is not in the realm of day-to-day servicing and maintenance, led to the mishap.

Incidentally, the over 100 MiG-27MLs in the IAF fleet were hardly flown in 2005-2006 after it was found that their R-29 engines were causing a large number of accidents.

The MiG-27 crash last week was soon followed by a MiG-21 going down near Bagdogra in West Bengal on February 20, as reported earlier. Ageing MiG variants, which constitute the bulk of India's combat fleet, shoddy maintenance and inadequate training to rookie pilots, have all contributed to the high crash rate in IAF.

IAF chief Air Chief Marshal P V Naik, on his part, said, "For us, the accidents are not only a matter of grave concern, but they also pain us deeply since lives are lost.''

Maintaining that IAF is constantly taking steps to minimize mishaps, he said, "Accidents are bound to happen. Nobody has ever had zero accidents. But we, as an organisation, must ensure that the operational efficiency and morale is not degraded.''

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/MiG-27s-grounded-IAF-orders-checks/articleshow/5604534.cms

NEWS FLASH - IAF MiG-21 crashes in West Bengal, pilot safe

NEW DELHI: An Indian Air Force MiG-21 combat jet crashed soon after take-off from Bagdora in West Bengal on Friday but the pilot ejected to safety, an IAF spokesman said.

"The aircraft crashed around 3pm soon after take-off and the pilot, squadron leader Rahul Tiwari, ejected safely," the spokesman added.

"The pilot was picked up by an SAR (search and rescue) helicopter and has been taken to hospital," the spoksman said.

This is the second crash of an IAF fighter in three days. A MiG-27 had crashed near the Hashimara air base, also in West Bengal, on Tuesday.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/IAF-MiG-21-crashes-in-West-Bengal-pilot-safe-/articleshow/5593107.cms

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NEWS FLASH - MiG-27 crashes in West Bengal, pilot killed

 

New Delhi: A MiG-27 fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed in West Bengal on Tuesday, Defence Ministry officials said. The pilot was killed in the accident. The fighter plane took off from the Hashimara air force base. The pilot, Wing Commander Aswal, was killed in the crash.

In previous incidents related to this aircraft, the IAF lost two of its Russian-made MiG-27s in crashes last year.

In May 2009, a MiG-27 crashed at Jodhpur, and in October another MiG-27 crashed near New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal. In both cases, the pilots ejected safely.

Source: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/mig27-crashes-in-west-bengal-pilot-killed/110247-3.html?from=tn

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