An Indian fighter jet crashed Friday soon after taking off from an air force base in central India, but the pilot ejected safely, an air force spokesman said, according to AP. The British-made Jaguar crashed soon after taking off from a base near Gwalior city, 290 kilometers (180 miles) south of the Indian capital, spokesman Mahesh Upasani said. There were no reports of damage to any civilian or air force property, other than the plane, Upasani said. «Nobody has been killed or hurt on ground.» The Indian air force has been plagued by frequent crashes, particularly among its aging Soviet-made MiGs. The air force lacks advanced practice aircraft to train their pilots in before they take to the skies in fighter jets. Indian officials insist the air force has improved its safety standards and crash rates are declining. Upasani said Friday's crash was the sixth this year, compared with last year's 13.
