Indian air force trainer aircraft crashes, pilot ejects safely

An Indian Air Force (IAF) trainer aircraft crashed near Tambaram in the southern city of Chennai on November 14, the IAF confirmed in an official release. The pilot survived after successfully ejecting from the aircraft.

"An Indian Air Force aircraft 'Pilatus PC-7', which was on a routine training mission, crashed near Tambaram in Chennai on November 14. The pilot ejected safely," the statement said, Caliber.Az writes via Indian media. 

The Pilatus PC-7, a low-wing, tandem-seat turboprop manufactured by Switzerland’s Pilatus Aircraft Ltd, serves as a basic trainer for the IAF. The aircraft is used for multiple training roles, including aerobatics, instrument flying, tactical exercises, and night operations.

A court of inquiry has been launched to determine the cause of the accident.

The incident comes just months after a twin-seater Jaguar trainer aircraft crashed in Rajasthan’s Churu district, killing two IAF pilots. The Chennai crash marks the sixth IAF aircraft accident reported in 2025.

By Sabina Mammadli