Pilot killed as fighter-jet crashes in Anantnag

An Indian Air Force fighter jet crashed in an open field at Simthan near Bijbehara in Anantnag district of South Kashmir.

Sources told The Hindu that the single pilot, squadron leader Raghuvanshi, on the jet died when the jet crash landed at 11.00 a.m on Tuesday. However, no damage was caused to the civilian life or property as per the preliminary reports.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar said that a police team, headed by additional SP Anantnag, reached the spot and the security forces cordoned the area in minutes of the crash. A search operation was launched as the security forces believed that there would be two pilots on board the jet.

However, soon it became clear from the IAF base in Srinagar and Awantipore that there was only one pilot on the jet.

The body of the pilot was recovered and carried to an IAF base.