Pune crash fallout: Sukhoi fleet temporarily grounded

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has grounded its fleet of Sukhoi-30 MKI fighters as a fallout of the Pune crash. “The flying of the Su-30 fleet has been temporarily suspended,” an IAF press release said.

One Su-30 fighter of the IAF was involved in an accident at Pune on October 14 when both seats ejected as the aircraft was coming in to land. The pilots were safe but the aircraft crashed about 20 km before the runway. A Court of Inquiry had been constituted to investigate the cause of the accident.

The fleet of about 200 twin-engine Su-30s would be back in air only when they are cleared by the technical review.

“Meanwhile, as is the procedure in such cases, the flying of the Su-30 fleet has been temporarily suspended. The Court of Inquiry is in progress and certain specific checks are being conducted on the aircraft. As and when the checks are complete, and the court is satisfied, the Su-30s will be put back into flying,” the Air Force release said.