Bangalore: The Aero India show was marred when a jet trainer of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) veered off the runway while taking off for a flight display.
The prototype version of the intermediate jet trainer (IJT) piloted by Wing Commander Baldev Singh went into a grassy patch of land near the runway at Yelahanka airbase, the venue for the air show, throwing up clouds of dust.
Indian Air Force and HAL sources said preliminary information indicated that one of the IJT's tyres burst while it was taking off.
Fire tenders had reached the spot and Singh, a HAL test pilot, was reported safe.
The runway was closed for some time after the accident, the second mishap involving a HAL-built aircraft in less than a week.
On February 2, a Dhruv advanced light helicopter of the IAF's Sarang aerobatic team plummeted to the ground while participating in practice ahead of the air show, killing co-pilot Squadron Leader Priye Sharma and seriously injuring pilot Wing Commander V Jetley.
08/02/07 NDTV.com

Labels: accident, HAL, IAF, IJT, Security

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