IAF's Hawk jet trainer crashes in Kalaikunda, pilots eject safely
A Hawk advanced jet trainer today crashed soon after takeoff from Air Force Station, Kalaikunda in West Midnapore due to a "technical snag" but both the pilots ejected safely.
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IAF sources said that the aircraft developed a technical problem at about 1100 hours, minutes after taking off from Kalaikunda air station in West Bengal, where another Hawk had crashed in June last year.
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The crash occurred within the boundary of the air station, 138 km from here, and the two pilots ejected safely, they said.
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"A Court of Inquiry has been instituted into the crash," an IAF source said.
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Last year in June, another Hawk had crashed after taking off from Kalaikunda station as it developed a technical problem. Budding fighter pilots undergo their stage-III training for a year on Hawk.