A Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) of the Indian Air Force crashed in West Bengal on Thursday, moments after both pilots ejected safely. This is the fourth crash of a Hawk trainer jet till date.
The aircraft got airborne from the Kalaikunda airbase of West Bengal for a routine training mission. Official sources said that soon after take-off, it developed a technical snag and crashed very close to the runway.
A Court of Inquiry has been (CoI) ordered to ascertain the cause.
Hawks are used as advanced jet trainers for future fighter pilots to graduate from Intermediate trainers to frontline supersonic aircraft.
