Indian Air Force Jaguar fighter plane crashes

An Indian fighter jet crashed today soon after taking off from an air force base in central India, but the pilot ejected safely, an air force spokesman said.

The British-made Jaguar crashed soon after taking off from a base near Gwalior city, 180 miles south of the Indian capital, spokesman Mahesh Upasani said.

There were no reports of damage to any civilian or air force property, other than the plane, Upasani said.

“Nobody has been killed or hurt on ground.”

The Indian air force has been plagued by frequent crashes, particularly among its ageing Soviet-made MiGs, and lacks advanced training aircraft to match its combat planes.

But officials insist the air force has improved its safety standards and crash rates are declining.

Upasani said today’s crash was the sixth this year, compared with last year’s 13.