An Indian Air Force (IAF) MiG-29 fighter aircraft has crashed near Rurki Kalan village in Punjab's Nawanshahr district on Friday, May 8. The pilot has ejected safely as he was unable to control the aircraft and he is reportedly safe.

IAF jet crash
The incident happened near Rurki Kalan village in Punjab's Nawanshahr district.Twitter/@livefist

The Mig-29 aircraft was on a training mission from the Air Force base near Jalandhar. It met with an accident after developing a technical snag. The pilot has been rescued by a helicopter.

MiG-29 jet crash
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Here's IAF's statement:

"On 08 May at 1045hrs, one Mig-29 aircraft airborne on a training mission from Air Force base near Jalandhar met with an accident. The aircraft had developed a technical snag and the pilot ejected safely as he was unable to control the aircraft. The pilot has been rescued by a helicopter. A Court of Inquiry has been ordered to investigate the cause of the accident."

In another similar incident earlier this year, a Pipistrel Virus SW 80, microlight trainer aircraft crashed soon after taking off from the Army cantonment area, Patiala. An Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander G S Cheema was killed in the crash. The officer was on deputation at an NCC unit in the city.