SRINAGAR, June 7: An Indian air force Mig fighter jet crashed in Srinagar on Friday due to technical problems. The pilot sustained minor injuries, police said.
The plane crashed at the military wing of Srinagar’s main airport, a police official said.
“A technical snag erupted, which sparked (a) fire in the jet,” the official said. “The pilot ejected out before the jet crashed into the runway and has been shifted to hospital,” he added.
An air force spokesman in New Delhi, however, denied the pilot was hurt.
Indian fighter jets, which had been roaring over Srinagar since morning, stopped flights over the city after the crash.
Amid high tension with Pakistan, Indian military planes have been flying over Srinagar at all hours in recent days, at times sparking panic among residents.
Fire engines rushed to douse the flames at Srinagar’s airport, which is under intense security.
Three flights scheduled for held Jammu were cancelled, while those to New Delhi were put on hold.
Senior police, army and air force officials headed to the airport to take stock of the situation.—AFP