`Sea Harrier` crashes off Goa coast, one pilot missing
Panaji, April 05: A naval Sea Harrier trainer fighter crashed off the goa coast on Thursday with the two pilots ejecting safely, but one of them yet to be traced in the high seas.
The fighter crashed at 0850 AM while returning from a routine training sortie at sea about five miles off the coast, a Defence Ministry spokesman Capt Abhay Lambhate told a news agency.
"While both the pilots ejected from the aircraft before it crashed in the Arabian Sea, rescuers had so far been able to locate and bring back to safety Commander Vikram Menon, who was the senior training pilot," Lambhate said.
"Naval and coastguard helicopters, aircraft and warships are still scouring the seas for the other pilot Lt Commander Saurabh Tewari," he said.
The trainer version of the Harrier had only been inducted into service last year. Navy is presently undertaking a midlife refit of its harrier fleet.
Bureau Report
http://zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=364148&sid=REG
Panaji, April 05: A naval Sea Harrier trainer fighter crashed off the goa coast on Thursday with the two pilots ejecting safely, but one of them yet to be traced in the high seas.
The fighter crashed at 0850 AM while returning from a routine training sortie at sea about five miles off the coast, a Defence Ministry spokesman Capt Abhay Lambhate told a news agency.
"While both the pilots ejected from the aircraft before it crashed in the Arabian Sea, rescuers had so far been able to locate and bring back to safety Commander Vikram Menon, who was the senior training pilot," Lambhate said.
"Naval and coastguard helicopters, aircraft and warships are still scouring the seas for the other pilot Lt Commander Saurabh Tewari," he said.
The trainer version of the Harrier had only been inducted into service last year. Navy is presently undertaking a midlife refit of its harrier fleet.
Bureau Report
http://zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=364148&sid=REG
