Chennai: Fuel tank of an IAF Tejas fell in an agricultural field in Coimbatore’s outskirts on Tuesday, police said. The aircraft was doing a sortie when the incident occurred.
Defence sources in Chennai confirmed that a fuel tank from an IAF aircraft fell and said “all (was) safe”, indicating that there were no injuries.
“Today morning, around 0840h, one fuel drop tank fell off from a Tejas aircraft on a routine sortie from Sulur Air Base near Coimbatore,” an IAF spokesperson said to ANI.
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The aircraft landed back safely after the incident, he said, and added, “No damage was reported on ground.”
The locals were first shaken by a loud explosion. Upon investigation, they found that 1200-litre petrol tank fall from the sky.
Tamil Nadu: Indian Air Force to order investigation into the incident where fuel tank of the LCA Tejas aircraft of IAF fell down in farm land near Sulur air base during flight today. pic.twitter.com/KqtCJickeU
— ANI (@ANI) July 2, 2019
The fuel tank drop caused a three-foot deep crater and a minor fire, the police added.
Officials of the Indian Air Force and the police are at the spot, they said.
Ms Kalinga