NEW DELHI, April 4 (UPI) -- At least six people were killed when a MIG-23 fighter jet of the Indian Air Force crashed Friday into a residential area in northern India.
Several people, including children, were feared buried under the debris of the three houses that were hit by the air force plane in Mullanpur Dakha village in Punjab state.
The plane wreckage set on fire the neighboring buildings, and scores of fire fighters were trying to contain the blaze. The pilot of the ill-fated plane ejected safely within seconds of taking off from the Halwara Air Force base.
Witnesses say they saw a rolling flame ball falling from the skies.
Indian Air Force, which is world's fourth largest, has been plagued by a series of MIG plane crashes. The Indian media has dubbed the Russian designed MIG planes as "flying coffins." Indian Air Force has lost more than one MIG plane each month on an average over the last 10 years.
New Delhi is considering phasing out its MIG-23 fleet.
