NEW DELUL, India: A fighter jet crashed and exploded in a giant fireball at ceremonies honoring the Indian air force after the pilot apparently misjudged the plane’s altitude and tried an extra acrobatic maneuver, officials said.
About 2,000 military and civilian dignitaries, journalists and other guests watched in horror as the French designed Mirage 2000 plunged to earth about 300 yards from a reviewing stand, killing the pilot.
No one of the ground was killed. Some spectators suffered sprained ankles or bruises while running either toward or away from the burning wreckage.
The silver delta winged aircraft was completing a maneuver known as a “vertical Charlie” the finale of a 20 minute aerial display of 22 of the air forces supersonic fighters, transport and training aircraft.
An inquiry was ordered to determine what caused the crash, the first major accident at an Indian military air show.
The pilot was identified as Ramesh Bakshi, the 39 year old commander of the Mirage squadron.
The aircraft slammed into the ground, exploded and bounced three times through fuel tanks on the ground, igniting a giant fireball. Two buses caught fire and several trucks and other vehicles in the area were badly damaged by ‘burning chunks of debris.
The Mirage is capable of flying up to 1,460 mph at an altitude of 65,600 feet. The first Mirages came off the assembly line in 1966.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 13, 1989
