A MiG-21 aircraft of IAF today crashed in Rajasthan's Barmer district, with the pilot ejecting safely.
The plane crashed near Sodiyar village at 9 AM and the pilot ejected safely, Defence Spokesperson S D Goswami told PTI.
He said the aircraft took off from the Uttarlai Airbase in the western sector and was on a routine sortie.It crashed 40 km off Barmer, he said.
Police and IAF officers reached the spot after the incident and the pilot was taken to a hospital.A rescue mission was immediately launched from Jodhpur airbase.
SP Barmer Rahul Barhat said that a fire tender was rushed to the spot to douse the flames.
He said that the aircraft crashed in an open field, which is away from the village, and there is no report of property loss.
The IAF has ordered a Court of Inquiry to ascertain the cause of the crash.
Barmer is 588 kms from Jaipur.