IAF said Sqn Ldr Abhinav Choudhary sustained fatal injuries after his MiG-21 jet crashed near Moga in Punjab on Friday

A pilot of the Indian Air Force (IAF) was killed after a MiG-21 aircraft crashed near Moga in Punjab in the wee hours of Friday, officials said.

The incident took place around 1 am on Friday when the Mig-21 of the IAF crashed at Langiana Khurd village of Baghapurana in Moga. The IAF aircraft was on a routine training sortie when the accident happened, the air force officials said.

"There was an aircraft accident last night involving a Bison aircraft of the IAF in the western sector. The pilot, Sqn Ldr Abhinav Choudhary, sustained fatal injuries. IAF condoles the tragic loss and stands firmly with the bereaved family," the Indian Air Forces said on Twitter.

A court of inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident, IAF said.

This is the third crash of a MiG-21 aircraft this year. In March, a Group Captain of the IAF was killed in an accident involving a MiG-21 Bison aircraft at an airbase in central India.

The accident took place when the aircraft was taking off for a combat training mission, the IAF had said, and added that Group Captain A Gupta was killed in the accident. A court of inquiry was ordered to determine the cause of the accident.

"During a training sortie in the western sector, a MiG-21 Bison aircraft experienced a major technical malfunction this evening. The pilot ejected safely. There is no loss of life," the IAF had said.

A court of inquiry was ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident.