Jammu and Kashmir: IAF aircraft crashes in Budgam district, two bodies recovered from spot

New Delhi, Feb27: An aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam district on Wednesday morning. It is unclear yet what aircraft it was, or what caused the crash.

Budgam senior superintendent of police said two bodies were found at the site of the crash, which happened in an open field at Garendkanal village. "The IAF's technical team will arrive and ascertain facts,” said the official. "Till now, we have found two bodies."

Several news channels reported that the crash occurred due to a technical fault. The incident comes amid a backdrop of heightened tensions in Jammu and Kashmir, a day after India carried out targeted strikes on what New Delhi has said was a terror camp in Pakistani territory.

Eyewitnesses said they heard a loud explosion after the jet crashed at around 10.15 am. “There was a huge plume of smoke emanating from the spot,” a resident of the area told Scroll.in. "It's a mountainous area and it witnesses a lot of air traffic due to its proximity to the Srinagar airport."

Unidentified officials told PTI that the aircraft broke into two and caught fire immediately. The identity of the deceased is yet to be ascertained, they added. A news channel claimed that the aircraft was a MiG 21, a fighter jet, though there is no official confirmation yet.