The pilot assessed the situation in seconds and was able to make an emergency landing, the IAF said on Friday.
An Indian Air Force pilot flying the Jaguar fighter was hailed by the IAF on Friday for saving "lives of many civilians" with "professionalism and quick thinking" after the aircraft was hit by a flock of birds soon after takeoff from Ambala air base on Thursday.
The pilot assessed the situation in seconds and was able to make an emergency landing, the IAF said on Friday.
"On the morning of June 27, 2019, an IAF Jaguar aircraft loaded with two additional fuel drop tanks and Carrier Bomb Light Stores (CBLS) pods took off from AFS Ambala for a training mission. Immediately after takeoff, the aircraft encountered a flock of birds," the IAF said.
Watch the video of the Jaguar aircraft being hit by a flock of birds and subsequent fire in the engine here
The IAF said that the bird hit resulted in the failure of one of the fighter's engines. Despite most serious emergencies staring in his face, the young pilot assessed the situation in seconds, jettisoned two additional fuel drop tanks & CBLS Pods as per Standard Operating Procedure & safely landed the aircraft, it said.
Hailing the pilot, the Air Force said, "His actions bear testimony to the highest professional standards of the IAF resulting from extensive operational training. The professionalism & quick thinking by the pilot not only saved a war waging asset but also the lives of many civilians in the area adjoining the airfield."
The aircraft took off from Ambala air base on a training mission at around 7.45 am. In a statement on Thursday, IAF said in a statement that the prompt and correct actions by the pilot enabled him to recover the crippled aircraft on single engine and carry out a safe landing at Air Force Station, Ambala.
Ambala district administration officials said one of the fuel tanks landed in a residential area near the air base but no one was injured. There were no casualties or reports of anyone sustaining any injury due to fall of fuel tank in the residential area, the officials added.
Some objects (fuel tank) fell outside the Air Force station near a residential area in Ambala, but no one was injured, though panic gripped the area for a while, Ambala Superintendent of Police Mohit Handa said over phone.
Officials said an ambulance and a fire brigade were rushed to the spot, but luckily no had been injured.
A court of inquiry has been ordered.
As many as 33 IAF aircraft, including 19 fighter jets, met accidents since 2015-16, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had told the Lok Sabha Wednesday.
(With PTI inputs)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "IAF Jaguar takes off from Ambala air base")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}