July 23, 2003	Wednesday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 22, 1424

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NEW DELHI, July 22: An Indian air force Jaguar plane crashed while taking off from a military air base in the northern Indian town of Ambala on Tuesday, a military spokesman said.

The British-built Jaguar caught fire and veered off the runway during take-off from the air base but the pilot was rescued by firefighters, air force spokesman Mahesh Upasani said.

Eyewitnesses said the aircraft was gathering speed for taking off when it caught fire near a water tank and three fire tenders rushed to prevent the aircraft from blowing up.

“The extent of the damage to the aircraft is being assessed and an inquiry has been ordered into the incident,” the spokesman said.—APP/AFP