January 19  2007
An Indian Air Force pilot has lost his life during a live air-to-ground firing exercise near India's Rajashthan's Jaisalmer district when the Jaguar fighter aircraft he was in exploded in mid-air

The British designed and built Jaguar aircraft were supplied to the IAF in the 1970's and had recently undergone major upgrades of engines radars and avionics - the pilot was apparently "off-loading" armaments when the explosion occurred

Debris from the fighter was spread over large sections of sand dunes between two villages - there were no ground based injures

Thirteen fighters of the Indian Air Force have now crashed during the last two years - including 2 Jaguar aircraft - claiming at least 10 lives

News Desk Comment

Live-firing of on-board munitions is always risky in any environment - ground or air based

January 18  2007
The pilot of a 6-seat Piper Malibu departing Bankstown for Toowoomba aborted the take-off when at about 6 metres and landed back on the runway collapsing the landing gear

The aircraft slid off the runway onto the grass verge sustaining moderate damage

The passengers were shaken but unhurt