New Delhi: A Mig-29K twin seater aircraft which was on a routine training sortie encountered a flock of birds after take off from the naval air base at Dabolim, Goa and crashed on November 16.

The pilot observed that the left engine had flamed out and the right engine had caught fire. Attempts to recover the aircraft following the standard operating procedures were unsuccessful due to nature of emergency.

The pilot, showing huge presence of mind, pointed the aircraft away from populated areas and both pilots ejected safely. An inquiry to investigate the cause of accident has been instituted by the Navy. The pilots Capt M Sheokhand and Lt Cdr Deepak Yadav are safe and have been recovered. There has been no loss of life or damage to property on ground.