Monday, December 5 2005 15:04 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Panaji: A 'Sea Harrier' fighter aircraft of the Indian Navy crashed during the take-off run at Dabolim airport, 45 km from here, killing the pilot Lt Commander H S Pannu.

The aircraft which was on a routine training mission crashed at 11.30 hours when it hit a barrier during the take-off run at the airport, a naval spokesperson said.

This is the first crash of a sea harrier in the last three years, he said adding a board of inquiry has been ordered to probe the cause of the crash.