The mangled remains of an Indian Air Force trainee aircraft in Keesara, Hyderabad, on Thursday. PTI

Hyderabad, September 28

An Indian Air Force (IAF) training aircraft on a routine flight today crashed in a secluded area of Telangana’s Medchal district before bursting into flames. The pilot, however, escaped unhurt, the police said.The crash occurred around 11.45 am at Ankireddypalli village, 30 km from the Telangana capital, but the pilot ejected safely. The Kiran trainer aircraft had taken off from the Air Force Station at Hakimpet here, ACP (Kushaiguda Division) Syed Rafeeq said.“The pilot, Aman Pandey, ejected safely. The aircraft crashed around 2 km from the point where the pilot ejected. It crashed at an isolated place near an agricultural field and burst into flames,” said Rafeeq, after visiting the crash site.The officer said there was no damage on the ground as there were no houses or people at the crash scene.The ACP cited a villager who had spotted the aircraft flying low and later heard a loud explosion. “According to the villager, soon after crashing the aircraft burst into flames,” Rafeeq said.Rachakonda Police Commissioner Mahesh Bhagwat said IAF officials visited the scene of the mishap and took the pilot along. “Two fire tenders were rushed to the spot to douse the blaze,” he said.“The pilot is safe. A CoI (Court of Inquiry) will ascertain the cause of the accident,” an IAF statement said. On March 3, 2010, two pilots were killed after a Kiran MK-II plane, part of the “Sagar Pawan” aerobatic team participating at the India Aviation Show, crashed into a building here. — PTI