IAF MiG-29 fighter jet crashes near Agra due to system malfunction, pilot unharmed

An Indian Air Force (IAF) MiG-29 fighter jet crashed near Agra on Monday during a routine training exercise. The aircraft had taken off from Adampur in Punjab and was heading to Agra when it encountered a system malfunction, forcing the pilot to take immediate action. In a statement, the IAF confirmed that the pilot managed to safely eject after maneuvering the aircraft to avoid causing damage to lives or property on the ground.

The IAF released an official statement following the incident: “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. An inquiry has been ordered by the IAF to ascertain the cause of the accident.”

This marks the third IAF fighter jet crash in recent months. Earlier, on September 2, another MiG-29 crashed during a night training mission near Rajasthan’s Barmer. That aircraft too encountered a critical technical snag, forcing the pilot to eject safely. No casualties or property damage were reported in that incident, though the plane caught fire after the crash.

In another incident on June 4, a Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jet crashed in Maharashtra's Nashik district near Shirasgaon village. The aircraft was on a routine sortie when it encountered technical issues, leading both the pilot and co-pilot to eject. The crash caused the jet to catch fire, and aircraft debris was found scattered over a 500-meter radius around the crash site.

The recent crashes raise concerns about the maintenance and technical health of aging fighter jets in the Indian Air Force. The IAF’s MiG-29 fleet, introduced several decades ago, has encountered multiple operational challenges, prompting calls for modernization and upgrades.

The IAF is currently conducting inquiries into each incident to determine the specific causes and prevent future mishaps.