New Delhi: The body of a pilot recovered today (Apr 3, 2004) from the wreckage of a Jaguar fighter aircraft in Sonamarg region of Jammu and Kashmir has been identified as that of Flight Lieutenant G Oberoi, official sources said.

Search is on for Flt Lt Mayank of the second Jaguar warplane, the wreckage of which was located about one km from the crash site of the other jet, they said.

An Indian Air Force (IAF) spokesman, however, refused to comment on the names of the two Ambala-based pilots.

The Air Force would be helidropping tomorrow personnel specially trained to operate in inhospitable terrain to reach the crash site of the second Jaguar plane and locate the pilot, the sources said.

They said IAF has requested for assistance of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps of the Army in this operation.

An Army team from Gulmarg-based Mountain Warfare School, currently stationed at Sonamarg, reached the crash site and retrieved the body.

The mountaineers had to climb an arduous track for three-and-a-half-hour to reach the scene after helicopters failed to land there, Air Force sources said.