(a) whether MIG-21 and 23 aircraft crashed recently;
(b) if so, the loss of life and property suffered as a result thereof;
(c) the compensation paid to the family members of deceased;
(d) whether any enquiry has been conducted to go into the causes of accidents;
(e) if so, the outcome thereof;
(f) whether another MIG aircraft with its two pilots went missing on April 25, 2002; and
(g) if so, the fate of aircraft and its pilots?
A N S W E R
MINISTER OF DEFENCE (SHRI GEORGE FERNANDES)
(a) to (g): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (g) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 70 FOR 18.7.2002
On 3rd May, 2002 a MiG-21 aircraft crashed on the outskirts of Jalandhar city and on 26th June, 2002 a MiG-23 aircraft crashed near Sidhwan Khas Range, close to Air Force Station Halwara. In both the cases Courts of Inquiry have been ordered and are still in progress.
The MiG-21 aircraft crashed into a building housing the Bank of Rajasthan, killing 09 and injuring 12 people. The bank and a plywood godown inside the building were gutted. The MiG-23 aircraft crashed in a paddy field. However, there was no loss of life/injury to anyone due to this accident.
In both the cases the losses are still being assessed and compensation will be paid as per the existing rules.
A MiG-21 trainer aircraft, with two pilots, is missing since 20th April, 2002. The aircraft got airborne for a fighter manoeuvring exercise from Tezpur airfield, Assam. It did not return to base after the exercise. There was no Radar contact also with the aircraft. A search was initiated to locate the missing aircraft enlisting the assistance of Government of Bhutan also. However, the wreckage and the missing pilots have not been located. So far, search efforts have been hampered by the thick forest that covers the hilly terrain. Efforts are still in progress to locate the crash site. It is presumed that both the pilots have been killed in the crash.