Panel to probe IAF fighter crashes

In view of increasing rate of accidents involving IAF combat aircraft, Defence ministry has decided to set up a committee under a senior bureaucrat to suggest measures to check these mishaps.
The ministry will set up the Committee under an Additional Secretary-level officer to look into the recent air crashes and suggest measures to check their occurrence in future, IAF sources said here.

The decision in this regard was taken at a recent meeting chaired by defence minister AK Antony, they said.

IAF has its own Flight Safety Directorate headed by an Air Marshal-rank officer.

The IAF lost eight combat aircraft in mishaps this year which include its latest Su-30MKI combat aircraft that crashed in Pune on Tuesday. The eight crashed aircraft include one each MiG 29 and Jaguar and six MiG 21s.

Meanwhile, The Sukhoi 30MKI fighter jets will do bare, minimum flying over Pune skies in the immediate future, the Indian Air Force said in a press statement on Thursday. The IAF said it would continue only with emergent and limited flying on Sukhoi 30 MKI at this base till the Flight Data Recorder information is fully analysed.