24-Hrs After IAF MiG-29 Crashes, Search Still On For Pilot & Wreckage


24 hours after an Indian Air Force MiG-29 fighter crashed in a mountainous part of India’s north, a comprehensive search operation continues for the wreckage. The fate of the pilot, Squadron Leader D.S. Tomar, remains unknown. On Tuesday evening, two MiG-29s from the IAF’s Adampur air force base took off Tuesday night for a night combat training sortie over the Lahaul-Spiti valley, an area marked by lofty snowbound peaks and deep, remote valleys. According to local media reports, one of the MiG-29s crashed into a mountainside during a turn, throwing up the possibility of controlled flight into terrain. An investigation has been ordered, but will only be able to get started once the wreckage of the aircraft is found. The IAF has committed two Su-30MKIs, two Antonov-32s, a Dornier Do-228 and two helicopters to scout for the wreckage in an area that, by all accounts, has some of the most treacherous terrain. As of now, the pilot is officially designated missing. Pray.

(Sqn Ldr Tomar flew a MiG-29 as part of a five aircraft arrowhead formation at India’s Republic Day flypast in 2010.)

Photo / Indian Air Force

23 thoughts on “24-Hrs After IAF MiG-29 Crashes, Search Still On For Pilot & Wreckage”

  1. bad news after bad news…I'm disappointed..Don't know why after CAS Browne has taken over all these crashes happening…God help him…

  2. i really hope they find the pilot in whatever condition he may be in as his family will get a chance of closure.
    Sir on adiffrent note sir can u run a story about the projects like FICV( wheeled or tracked) and the indiginous devlopment of 155mm artillery both self propelled and stationery and also the devlopment of the light tank

  3. Totally agree with Anon 9:25 pm…these spate of crashes seem like a kind of jinx that the IAF would want to get rid of asap..

  4. Pray for the pilot, that he should return base safely… The reason for the error should also be find out soon, to prevent more crashes in the future..

  5. Pakistan and china does not have to worry about IAF .Indians are doing a good job of loosing the aircrafts by themselves.Have you seen the statistics,IAF has the worst Accidents(Pun Intended in the world.Shame really a shame

  6. Sdr ldr tomar sir we know u r 1 of d best pilot of our country had… Still my heart says u r alive.. We r waiting 4 u.. Come soon.. . Jai hind

  7. Sdr ldr tomar sir we know u r 1 of d best pilot of our country had… Still my heart says u r alive.. We r waiting 4 u.. Come soon.. . Jai hind

  8. why only the crashes are happening in north or close to borders?.

    some jamming or high intensity laser from other side of border must be probed..

  9. The surprising thing is that after every crash we find it is difficult to locate the wreckage. I recall Air Mshl. Ragavendran writing that when HE was in service he had asked DRDO to develop equipment in this line. Ofcourse nothing came out of it because I may be wrong but it appears that the Honchos of DRDO are only interested in projects that meet two preconditions:

    1 The project must be large in monetary terms.
    2 the project should be so lengthy that the Project Leader is guaranteed to retire before the project can be brought into service.
    I may be wrong but it appears like that to an ordinary citizen.The tragedy with the PLB is that young wives wait not knowing if HE is ever going to come home. Was the wreckage of the MiG21UB lost in Assam ever located in time for the two boys to be helped even as a closure.I don't know and think not.

  10. The MMRCA should go beyond 126 something like 250 + and these aircraft should used as reserves.Life is too precious specially for the pilots who put everything at stake for us.

  11. Why are IAF suffering so many crashes? Poor maintenance, training and procedures?

    I bet that the MMRCA winner won't help up the failure rate …

  12. Lets pray for him. he should be alive and safe. God must save him. Blessings to our brave fighter pilots and their families.

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