MiG-21 ‘drops’ fuel tanks, gives villagers a scare

Source : TOI

Jaipur: Panic prevailed at Nai Ka Nath village under Bassi police station area in the outskirts of the city on Friday when three fuel tanks of a MiG-21 fighter jet fell near the mountains. The tanks were recovered by the police who have informed the Indian Air Force (IAF). The tanks fell from the jet, which was on a test flight, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing at Sanganer airport. According to the police, the villagers heard a loud 'explosion' and were under the impression that some explosives may have gone off. A police team rushed to the spot and recovered the tanks. "These are fuel tanks which are also known as drop tanks. These are used by fighter planes and dropped in safe areas. We have been informed by the IAF that a MiG-21 had landed at Jaipur airport some days ago was on a test flight. During the flight, the jet developed some technical snag and the pilots dropped the tanks as a precautionary measure," said a senior police official of the Bassi station. Meanwhile, airport authorities also confirmed the emergency landing. "A MIG-21 aircraft of the IAF was under repair at the airport. It took off for a test flight but developed some technical snag midair and the pilot had to make an emergency landing," a senior Jaipur airport official said.

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