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- A twin-seater MiG-29K fighter jet of the Navy on Thursday crashed into the Arabian Sea off Goa.
- One pilot has been rescued, while a search is on for the other.
- Last November, a MIG-29K trainer crashed in Goa after engine failure due to a bird hit. Both the two pilots ejected safely in the incident.
- In February last, a MIG-29K on a routine training sortie crashed off Goa due to technical glitch. The pilot ejected safely and was recovered.
Search and Rescue Operations
- As per the Indian Navy, in addition to nine warships and 14 aircraft engaged in the search efforts, Fast Interceptor Craft are also deployed to search waters along the coast.
- Further, the Marine/Coastal police are on the lookout and nearby fishing villages have been sensitised.
- Underwater search by divers and seabed mapping using specialised equipment in vicinity of MiG-29K wreckage has also been activated.
Search and Rescue Operations
- Some debris of the aircraft including landing gear, turbocharger, fuel tank engine and wing engine cowling was located.
- Generally, such operations which are initially the ‘search and rescue’ operation are converted to only ‘search’ operation after about a week.
- The person is assumed missing for the next seven years and then the person is counted as dead with the formalities coming to a conclusion.
- Cdr Nishant Singh’s body has been found 30 miles off the coast of Goa on the sea bed 70 metres below water after an extensive search mission.
- As per protocol, his family has been informed and DNA tests are underway to confirm the identity of the corpse.
- In his humour-laden letter titled “permission to bite the bullet” seeking his Commanding Officer’s permission to solemnise the marriage in the Month of May this year has already gone viral. In his letter Nishant Singh had mentioned the significance of ‘split seconds’ in aviation and combat.