Navy plane crashes at Dabolim airport

Vasco: A single-seater Sea Harrier fighter aircraft of the Indian Navy crashed at Dabolim airport on Monday morning, moments after the pilot bailed out to safety.
This is the second Sea Harrier to have crashed this year and the fifth mishap – four involving Sea Harriers — to have hit the Navy at Vasco within two years.
Speaking to Herald, Indian Navy PRO Cmdr N Kesari stated the pilot of the ill-fated Sea Harrier Com Bevli was approaching the runway after a routine sortie, when the plane reportedly developed a technical snag.
Com Bevli ejected to safety and the plane crashed near the runway, bursting into flames at about 11.15 am.
Sources at Airport Authority of India said the crash did not disrupt civilian air traffic at Dabolim airport, since the incident took place during the time allotted to the Navy to conduct its operations from 8 am to 1 pm.
Naval fire tenders based at the runway rushed to the site and extinguished the flames. The runway was cleared within two hours.
24/12/07 Herald Publications

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Categories: Airports Dec 2007, Safety Dec 2007