A fighter pilot with the Indian Air Force (IAF) narrowly escaped after his Mikoyan MiG-29 span wildly out of control before crashing to the ground.
The MiG-29 fighter pilot was able to safely eject from the aircraft and was praised by the Indian Air Force for protecting the public from being hurt or injured during the crash.
The incident on November 4, 2024, near Agra in Northen-Central India was captured by locals who immediately ran to help the disorientated pilot in a field close-by.
“A MiG-29 aircraft of the IAF crashed near Agra during a routine training sortie today, after encountering a system malfunction. The pilot maneuvered the aircraft to ensure no damage to life or property on ground, before ejecting safely,” the IAF said in a statement following the incident.
The IAF confirmed that an enquiry has been launched to establish what caused the crash.
Footage captured by a local resident showed the MiG-29 spinning several times as it plummeted towards the ground, while a second video showed the fighter pilot safely landing using his parachute.
Un MIG-29 de la #India entro en perdida y se estrello este fin de semana al este del pais pic.twitter.com/xGt7BWnqEk
— la exocet 🚀 (@pampaIIIpelis) November 4, 2024
Other footage shared online appeared to show the damaged aircraft on fire in another fielded area.
Further video was also shared of the disheveled IAF fighter pilot as he was helped to his feet by local people.
#Breaking A MiG-29 fighter jet has crashed near Agra, Uttar Pradesh. The pilot has ejected from the plane. The plane had taken off from Adampur in Punjab and was en route to Agra for an exercise when the incident happened. More details awaited. Court of Inquiry to be ordered. pic.twitter.com/DUHiiHhVmM
— Sanjay Jha (@JhaSanjay07) November 4, 2024
In February 2024, an Indian Air Force officer died after he sustained a head injury caused by an aircraft ejector seat.
Corporal Harveer Choudhary was repairing a Kiran jet-powered trainer aircraft when the freak accident occurred.
At the time it was understood that the aircraft’s ejector seat was activated while the Kiran was being repaired, fatally injuring the officer who died at the scene.