New Delhi: Defence Minister George Fernandes on November 14 said that an expert team, including Russian technologists, has not found any defect so far in the MiG fighter planes despite visiting several bases, which have such aircraft.

"So far they (expert team) have not been able to pinpoint any defect which could be the cause of accidents," Fernandes told reporters in New Delhi.

He said the team included experts from Russia, as also those from the Air Force and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

He attributed the MiG crash near Bagdogra this morning to the "misjudgement of altitude by the pilots due to thick and heavy cloud." He however made it clear that this was the first assessment of the Air Force and he was awaiting the report of the local commander who has gone to the accident site.

Asked why the government was not placing orders for a new AJT (Advanced Jet Trainer) in view of frequent accidents involving the MiGs, he said, "even if order is placed today, it will take three years for the AJTs to come."

To a query as to why it would be delayed so much, he said he could answer the question only in Parliament.

PTI