Four persons, including two children, were killed and nine injured when a MiG-21 crashed in Lakhabawal, about 20km from Jamnagar, Gujarat, on Friday.

The pilot was unhurt but an 18-year-old was killed on the spot while two children -- Sarina Osman, 4, and Murtuza Mamad, 5 -- and a 50-year-old man -- Abdul Kareem -- succumbed to injuries in hospital, Jamnagar District Collector T Natrajan said. The 18-year-old was yet to be identified, he added.

The mishap took place at 0942 IST and the jet broke after crashing on the roof of a house, causing a fire that engulfed seven surrounding houses, he said.

An IAF spokesperson said it was "too premature" to state the reason of the crash.

"There is an air-to-ground range in Jamanagar and pilots routinely undertake sorties. The pilot ejected safely and has been taken to hospital," he said, adding, "the extent of injuries to the pilot is not known immediately."

This was the second MiG to crash this month. A MiG-23 had crashed in Jaisalmer district, Rajasthan, on February 7.