Air Force Hawk jet trainer crashes after take-off in Bengal, pilots safe

A Hawk advanced jet trainer today crashed soon after take-off from Air Force Station, Kalaikunda in West Midnapore due to a “technical snag” but both the pilots ejected safely.

IAF sources said that the aircraft developed a technical problem at about 1100 hours, minutes after taking off from Kalaikunda air station in West Bengal, where another Hawk had crashed in June last year.

The crash occurred within the boundary of the air station, 138 kms from here, and the two pilots ejected safely, they said.

“A Court of Inquiry has been instituted into the crash,” an IAF source said.Last year in June, another Hawk had crashed after taking off from Kalaikunda station as it developed a technical problem. Budding fighter pilots undergo their stage-III training for a year on Hawk.