Indian MiG 29K Damaged While Landing On INS Vikramaditya

An Indian Navy MiG 29K aircraft has suffered damages while landing on the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya during operations in Arabian Sea off the coast of Goa, according to Navy officials.

The aircraft had taken off from the Naval airbase INS Hansa in Goa on Wednesday and was landing on the aircraft when it carried out a 'hard-landing' causing damage to the nose-wheel undercarriage, according to reports.

The pilot of the aircraft is safe and the further details of the damage are being assessed, according to the Press Trust of India.

In this incident onboard the 44,500 tonne warship, the pilot missed the first two arrester wires used as aid by the pilot for landing on the carrier and while he was trying to take off again, it got stuck in the third arrester wire causing a hard-landing, Navy officials said. MiG 29Ks have been procured by India from Russia and India is the only country in the world which operates these twin engine naval fighters.

India has ordered for 45 of these aircraft and this is the first accident involving these aircraft.