January 30, 2003	Thursday	Ziqa’ad 26,1423

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NEW DELHI, Jan 29: An Indian air force Jaguar fighter jet crashed in Rajasthan on Tuesday night, killing the pilot.

The British-made Jaguar was on a routine exercise when it lost contact with air traffic control, an Indian news agency said, quoting police.

The wreckage of the plane could not be located, it added.

The Indian air force has been plagued by crashes, particularly of its aging Russian-made Migs.

In one of the most serious crashes, a Jaguar in November crashed into a residential block in Ambala, killing 12 people.

At least 221 Mig-21s, worth tens of millions of dollars, were lost in crashes between 1991 and 2000, killing around 100 pilots.

A meeting chaired by Defence Minister George Fernandes in November decided to phase out the Mig fighter jets.—AFP