Ship-borne MiG jet for Indian Navy crashes in Russia

A ship-borne MiG-29KUB fighter/trainer, which was for the Indian Navy as part of the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier deal, crashed in south Russian Astrakhan region today, killing its two-member crew, a media report said.

The Russian defence ministry has grounded the entire MiG-29 fleet till the probe is over, its official spokesperson Colonel Igor Konashenkov told reporters.

The MiG-29KUB fighter/trainer was for the Indian Navy as part of the Gorshkov aircraft carrier deal, Interfax news agency quoted MiG Corporation sources as saying.

According to MiG spokesperson Elena Fyodorova, who confirmed that the ill-fated fighter belonged to the plant, said a team headed by its general director is rushing to Astrakhan region to assist the military in probe.