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IAF Jaguar crashes, no casualties

Last updated on: October 07, 2005 17:42 IST

An Indian Air Force Jaguar crashed on Friday soon after take-off from the Gwalior air force base, 290 kilometers south of New Delhi.

The pilot, however, ejected safely, an air force spokesman said.

There were no reports of damage to any civilian or air force property, other than the plane, spokesman Mahesh Upasani said.

The Air Force has been plagued by frequent crashes, particularly among its aging Soviet-made MiGs. It lacks advanced training aircraft to train their pilots in before they take to the skies in fighter jets.

Indian officials insist that the Air Force had improved its safety standards and that crash rates were declining.

Upasani said Friday's crash was the sixth this year, compared with last year's 13.

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