Sukhoi-30MKI crashes near Pune, pilots safe

A frontline Sukhoi jet of the Indian Air Force ( IAF) crashed near this Maharashtra town Tuesday but the two pilots bailed out to safety, an officer said.

The crash of the SU-30MKI combat jet occurred around 1.30 p.m. "The pilots are safe," the officer said, adding that there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties on the ground.

The aircraft had taken off from the Lohegaon air base on the outskirts of Pune. It crashed at Wade-Bholai village, 20 kms from here.

Preliminary reports said that the aircraft crashed due to a technical snag.

This is the third crash of a Su-30 since its induction in 1997. 

- Times of India