Indian Air Force Hawk Trainer Crashes, Pilots Ejected Safely

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

Indian Air Force (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, PTI reported Thursday.

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 Enquiry 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.