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Air Force MiG 21 Crashes in Bengal; Pilot Feared Dead

2007-03-01 An MIG-21 fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed near Norbong Tea Estate in Kurseong sub-division around 1.05 pm today, killing the pilot, SS Pandey, on the spot.

According to the Air Force sources, the MIG-21 aircraft took off from the air force station, Bagdogra, around 12.50 pm today, with Pandey on the pilot’s seat. Pandey was on a training mission and heading towards Darjeeling hills when the mishap occurred, sources, said.

Fifteen minutes after its departure from Bagdogra, the MIG-21 crashed opposite to the factory of Norbong Tea Estate in Kurseong, some 30 km from Siliguri, they said.

“Locals witnessed the mishap and immediately brought the matter to the notice of the police. They also noticed the pilot falling off the aircraft,” the Kurseong SDPO, Mr S Lepcha, said.

The police, fire brigade personnel and the Air Force officials rushed to the spot.

Later, the wreckage of the aircraft was found in a dense forest.
The body of the pilot was recovered hours after the mishap.
“Evidences suggest that the pilot tried hard to jump off the jet, but failed to open his parachute,” Mr Lepcha, added.

The body of the pilot was later handed over to officials of the air force station, Bagdogra, around 5.30 pm.

The Air Force officials have sent the body for a post-mortem to North Bengal Medical College and Hospital in Siliguri.

The wreckage of the aircraft is still lying scattered at the accident site, the police, said.

Group captain Chnadramouli, station commander, air force station Bagdogra, said the cause of the mishap was yet to be ascertained.

Mr Neren Lama, a local, said the accident probably occurred due to a cloudy weather. "It was drizzling when the aircraft crashed," he said.

Mr Ramesh Tamang, an eyewitness, said they heard a large sound soon after the mishap.

Kurseong SDO Mr Bhismadeo Dasgupta and DGHC councillor Mr IN Pradhan also visited the accident site.

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