Ludhiana: A MiG-23 fighter of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed in a village, 20 km from Ludhiana, near the Halwara air base on April 4 morning, killing three persons on ground but the pilot bailed out safely.

Police said three persons were killed when the debris of the fighter fell over private houses near a dhabha in Mullapur dakha on the GT road.

The fighter had taken off on a routine sortie from the Halwara Air Force station and crashed at about 10:25 hours (IST).

Senior civil, police and IAF officials have rushed to the spot. Further details were awaited.

PTI