NEW DELHI, March 7 (Xinhua) -- A Jaguar fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed Friday while on a routine training sortie in the northern Indian state of Haryana, police said.
The pilot ejected safely before it crashed in a hilly forest area near Raipur Rani of Panchkula district, about 35 km southeast of Chandigarh, the capital city of Haryana.
Television images showed debris of the jet in flames and some of its parts scattered on the ground in the densely planted area.
According to IAF, the aircraft, which had taken off from the Ambala airbase, encountered a system malfunction during a routine training sortie.
Meanwhile, IAF has ordered an inquiry to ascertain the cause of the crash.
Last month, a twin-seater fighter aircraft of the IAF also crashed while on a routine training sortie. ■
