New Delhi: A two-seater trainer aircraft of the Indian Navy crashed near Dabholim airport off Goa coast on Thursday morning.
The incident occurred at 0850 hrs (IST) when the aircraft was on its routine sortie. Officials said that the aircraft crashed soon after taking off from Dabolim airbase in the sea.
The defence official said that both the pilots of the 'Sea Harrier' ejected safely. While one of the pilot's was rescued, a search was on for another.
"While both the pilots ejected from the aircraft before it crashed in the Arabian sea, the defence forces could rescue only one pilot. Search is still on for the second pilot," Ministry of Defence, Public Relation Officer, Capt Abhay
Lambhate told PTI.
This is not the first time that a Harrier has crashed off the Goa coast. On December 17, 2004, a Harrier aircraft attached to the Naval Aviation Area crash-landed at the Dabolim International Airport near Vasco-da-Gama. The pilot bailed out unhurt.
In May 25, 2001, a Sea Harrier navy plane crashed at Phadkevam, about six kilometres from Asali in Shristhal-Canacona. The flight instructor however ejected to safety.
What is a Harrier? The aircraft has four wing and three under-fuselage stations. The inner wing pylons carry drop tanks of 900 kg each. The two outer wing pylons can carry up to 450 kg each. Indian Navy Sea Harriers use Magic-IIs for air defense.
(With PTI inputs)
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