Grounded Sukhois cleared for flying

The Russian-made combat aircraft fleet was grounded after a crash near Pune on October 14.

Combat aircraft Sukhoi-30 fleet, grounded after a crash near Pune on October 14,, will be back in the air “within a week’s time,” Chief of Air Staff Arup Raha said on Friday. (file photo)

The Indian Air Force’s frontline fighter jet, Sukhoi-30, has been cleared for flying after being grounded for nearly a month.

The entire fleet of about 200 Su-30s had been grounded following a Sukhoi crash in Pune on October 14. “The Sukhoi-30 fleet has been cleared for flying,” IAF spokesperson Wing Commander S.S. Birdi said on Friday.

Pune crash

On the reasons behind the Pune crash, IAF Chief Arup Raha told reporters, “This accident appeared to be due to automatic firing of the seats. The Court of Inquiry is about to be completed and the findings are being finalised.”

A team of 10 Russian experts joined the Indian experts in probing the cause of the crash in which the fighter jet crash landed on its belly around 20 km from the runway, while the pilots ejected safely.

Third instance

This was the third and also the longest period the Sukhoi fleet was grounded since its first crash in 2009.

Su-30s are the most modern of the IAF’s fighter jets and represent almost a third of its fighter fleet.