Pune:Â A Sukhoi 30 fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed at village Theoor near Pune this evening, police said.
Both the pilot and the co-pilot were safe, Pune rural police superintendent Manoj Lohiya said.
The jet came down on a grassy patch of land near village Theoor and there were no casualties or damage to any property on the ground either, police said.
Top Air Force and police officials rushed to the spot from where the pilots who ejected in time were taken to safety, police said.
No details about the crash and possible reason for it were released by the Southern Command office. A similar crash involving Sukhoi 30 had occurred near Pune about two years ago. The IAF base has a squadron of Sukhoi fighter jets.Â
The Sukhoi, which was first introduced in the Air Force in 1997, was for years considered a safe and reliable aircraft. Tuesday’s accident marks the fifth crash by a Sukhoi. Concerns about the reliability of the Sukhoi-30 MK1 have been accruing in recent months with several planes reporting engine failure.
India has 200 of these planes currently; another 70 jets have been ordered from the Russian manufacturer.