A Russian military MI-24 helicopter crashed in Syria on December 31, 2017, due to a technical fault, killing both pilots, Russian News Agencies cited the Ministry of Defence as saying on Wednesday.

The helicopter crashed en route to the Hama air base, RIA news said, quoting the ministry.

Similarly, a MiG-29K fighter aircraft of the Indian navy also crashed at an airport in India’s western state of Goa, officials said.

The fighter jet overshot runway at Dabolim airport in Goa and caught fire.

However, a trainee pilot inside the MiG managed to eject from the aircraft well before it went into flames, officials said.

“A MiG 29K aircraft with under-trainee pilot goes off runway while taking off at Goa airport. Pilot ejects to safety.

“Fire on aircraft being extinguished,” an Indian navy spokesperson said.

Immediately after the accident, fire tenders were rushed to the spot to extinguish the fire.

Officials said the firefighting operation was going on at the airport.

Following the incident, authorities closed the airport for flight operations.

“External fire has been extinguished.

“Efforts in hand to localise and extinguish internal fire on board the MiG-29K aircraft,” the spokesman said.

Authorities are trying to resume the flight operation at the airport.

Reports said this was the first MiG-29 lost by the Indian Navy which operated the jet off the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya.

The jet, according to reports, will also be deployed off the INS Vikrant, the first indigenous aircraft carrier being built for the Indian navy.

(Reuters/NAN)