Chennai: The Indian Navy’s operation to locate the second pilot of the MiG-29K, that went down in the Arabian Sea on 26 November, continued with extensive deployment of ships and aircraft, even as it is suspected that he might have ejected moments before the crash.
The ejection seat of Commander Nishant Singh, who was controlling the jet, was reportedly not present at the site of the wreckage, even as the other trainee pilot has been rescued.
“Underwater search by divers and sea bed mapping using specialised equipment in vicinity of primary wreckage of MiG-29K is being undertaken”, a Defence release said.
The Navy has earlier said some debris of the aircraft, including landing gear, turbo charger, fuel tank engine and wing engine cowling, had been located.Ā The Indian Navy has initiated an inquiry into the incident.
The officials confirmed that the jet had taken off for a sortie from Indiaās only aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya. MiG-29K ā the Russian-origin fighter planes ā operate from the deck of INS Vikramaditya, which had taken part in the recent Malabar naval drills involving the Quad navies of US, Australia, India and Japan.