Navy Jet Crashes As It Overshoots Runway In Goa, Pilot Safe, Airport Shut

Panaji:  A MiG-29 K fighter jet of the navy skidded off the runway at Goa airport and crashed today. The pilot, a trainee, managed to eject safely from the aircraft, which caught fire after crashing. The airport located inside the naval base has been shut and firefighting is in progress, a senior airport official said.

A statement from the Defence Ministry spokesperson said the incident occurred when the fighter jet, manned by a trainee pilot, overshot runway. Goa airport operates from the Indian naval base INS Hansa.

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"All flights are likely to be delayed at Goa Airport as the runway is closed for operations due to Indian Navy's urgent operational requirements," Goa airport authorities said on Twitter.

This is the first MiG-29 to be lost by the Indian Navy which operates the jet off the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya.

The fighter jet will also be deployed off the INS Vikrant, the first indigenous aircraft carrier being built for the Navy.