DNA version (extract): <Navy fighter plane crashes, pilot safe.. This is the fourth accident involving a Sea Harrier in the past one year. Earlier this year, another Sea Harrier had crashed while landing on the Navy carrier INS Viraat during a multi-nation naval exercice in the Bay of Bengal. Another fighter nose dived into the Arabian Sea after taking off from the same airport months back killing the pilot. Yet another Harrier rammed into a wall while landing here but the pilot managed to bail out safely.>
Indian Express version (extract): < With third Sea Harrier crash this year, Navy's fighter arm down to 12 In the third such accident this year, a Sea Harrier fighter aircraft of the Indian Navy crashed at the Dabolim airbase in Goa on Monday morning while coming in to land after a routine sortie. While the pilot, Commander Janak Bevli, managed to bail out safely, the incident once again brought into focus the depleting fighter strength of the Indian Navy. The loss of the third Sea Harrier has brought down the fighter strength of the Navy to a mere 12 aircrafts, including three dual-seater Harriers that are used for training new pilots... Initial reports indicate that the aircraft went down after suddenly losing power while the pilot was attempting a vertical landing. A similar crash happened in September during the multi-nation Malabar exercise when a Sea Harrier dunked into the sea while attempting to land on the INS Viraat> http://www.indianexpress.com/story/253885.html Another Indian Express story (extract): <Crash brings to fore need for dual airport in Goa The naval aircraft crash at Dabolim airport in Goa - that brought all operations to a halt in the middle of peak tourist season for a good 90 minutes on Monday - yet again brought into focus the need for upgradation at the existing airport and that for the long-awaited new airport at Mopa. More reason to do so, as a recently revealed study by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) confirms that both the airports can co-exist profitably.> http://www.indianexpress.com/story/253888.html I tried to google for information about the Sea Harrier crash in the Bay of Bengal during the multinational naval exercise (Operation Malabar?) but couldnt find anything. How is it that Goan media missed this event? >From the present accounts it appears that only 3 trainer aircraft remain (besides a paltry 6 operational fighter aircraft!) Is this correct? It may be time for flight training at Dabolim to close shop!
