Notable Accidents
A Su-30MKI aircraft crashed on 30 April 2009 in the Pokhran region of Rajasthan, at Rajmathai village, around 170 km from Jaisalmer, after it took off from Pune during a routine sortie, killing one of its two pilots. Defence minister A. K. Antony, stated that the likely cause of the crash was "failure of the fly-by-wire system". The Sukhoi fleet was then grounded for around three weeks. However it was found that the crash was caused by the incorrect position of critical switches behind the pilots and outside their field of view. The aircraft crashed when a critical switch was toggled disabling the Flight control system. Wing Commander PS Nara was killed in the mishap, while Wing Commander SV Munje was injured. Critical switches identified by the accident investigators were inhibited.
Another Su-30MKI crashed on 30 November 2009 in Jathegaon, about 40 km from Jaisalmer after a fire warning. Both aircrew ejected safely. As a result the entire fleet of Su-30MKIs was grounded while the cause of the problem was investigated. It was attributed to accidental ingestion of a foreign material in the engine intake.
A Su-30MKI crashed around 1:30 pm on 13 December 2011; both the pilots ejected safely. The aircraft had taken off from the Lohegaon Indian Air Force Base near Pune, crashing at Wade-Bholai village, 20 kilometres from Pune. Preliminary reports said that the crash was due to a malfunction in the fly-by-wire system. Wing Commander Gurkirat Singh Sohal, the pilot of the plane was conferred with the Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry).
An IAF Su-30 crashed at the Pokhran Range on 19 February 2013 at about 1920h. The aircraft was on a night flying training mission. Both the pilots ejected safely. There is no reported damage to any civil property or life on ground. A Court of Inquiry has been ordered to investigate into the accident.
Read more about this topic: Su-30MKI
Famous quotes containing the words notable and/or accidents:
“In one notable instance, where the United States Army and a hundred years of persuasion failed, a highway has succeeded. The Seminole Indians surrendered to the Tamiami Trail. From the Everglades the remnants of this race emerged, soon after the trail was built, to set up their palm-thatched villages along the road and to hoist tribal flags as a lure to passing motorists.”
—For the State of Florida, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)
“Some accidents there are in life that a little folly is necessary to help us out of.”
—François, Duc De La Rochefoucauld (1613–1680)