New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) today (April 4, 2004) rejected reports the crash of the two Jaguar fighter planes near Sonamarg in Jammu and Kashmir on April 2 was due to faulty spares.

An IAF spokesman said prima facie the crash had nothing to do with spares and it was due to bad weather.

He said the accident will be fully examined by a court of inquiry which has already been instituted.

The Bangalore-based Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) was manufacturing the aircraft and the engine parts were bought from Rolls Royce and Avionics which followed the Federal Aviation Standards and British Aviation Standards, he added.

The spokesman said the parts imported to the country are checked by officials of the Directorate General of Aviation Quality Assurance. The parts which are of HAL are inspected by the Chief Resident Inspector, he said.