Indian Navy's MiG-29K trainer jet crashes into Arabian sea, one Pilot saved, other missing

One pilot was recovered while another one had gone missing after a MiG-29K trainer aircraft of the Indian Navy crashed into the Arabian Sea on Thursday. Search operations for the missing pilot are currently underway.

"A MiG-29K trainer aircraft operating at sea met with an accident at about 1700 hrs on 26 November. One pilot has been recovered and search by air and surface units in progress for the second pilot. An inquiry has been ordered to investigate the incident," the Indian Navy said.

The Indian Navy has a fleet of over 40 MiG-29K fighter aircraft based out of Goa and also operated from the INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier.

A MiG-29K trainer ac operaring over sea reported ditched at about 1700h/ 26 Nov 20. One pilot recovered. SAR (Search & Rescue) operation in progress to look for the 2nd pilot. #IN has instituted an inquiry to look into cause of accident @indiannavy (rep pic) pic.twitter.com/LKxOyKmTRL
— Captain DK Sharma (@CaptDKS) November 27, 2020

The Indian Navy also plans to deploy these fighters on the indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC), Vikrant, being built at the state-owned Cochin Shipyard.