New Delhi:
The professionalism and quick thinking by the young pilot of Indian Air Force (IAF) not only saved a Jaguar fighter jet but also lives of many civilians after it was hit by a bird during take-off at Ambala air base on Thursday.
The IAF has released a 48-second video of the bird hit and the pilot’s maneuver of jettisoning two additional fuel drop tanks and CBLS Pods despite most serious emergencies staring in his face.
"On the morning of June 27, 2019, an IAF Jaguar aircraft loaded with two additional fuel drop tanks and Carrier Bomb Light Stores (CBLS) pods took off from AFS Ambala for a training mission. Immediately after takeoff, the aircraft encountered a flock of birds," the IAF said.
#WATCH: On the morning of 27 June, an IAF Jaguar aircraft loaded with two additional fuel drop tanks & Carrier Bomb Light Stores
— ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2019
(CBLS) pods took off from AFS Ambala for a training
mission. Immediately after take off, the aircraft encountered a flock of
birds. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/hNJN0dzo26
One of the fuel tanks landed in a residential area near Ambala air base but no one was injured, added district administration officials.
“Bird hit resulted in the failure of one of its engines. Despite most serious emergencies staring in his face, the young pilot assessed the situation in seconds, jettisoned two additional fuel drop tanks & CBLS Pods as per Standard Operating Procedure & safely landed the jet,†the Air Force said.
Praising the young pilot, IAF said, “His actions bear testimony to highest professional standards of IAF resulting from extensive operational training. The professionalism & quick thinking by the pilot not only saved a war waging asset but also lives of many civilians in the area adjoining the airfield.â€
Earlier, an AN-32 transport aircraft crashed in Arunachal Pradesh killing 13 people on June 3. As many as 33 IAF aircraft, including 19 fighter jets, met accidents since 2015-16, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had told the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
