Body found near MiG-29 crash site; DNA report awaited

A body believed to be of Indian Navy pilot Commander Nishant Singh, missing since his MiG-29 combat jet crashed into the Arabian Sea 11 days ago, has been found by rescue teams and officials are awaiting the result of a DNA test to confirm his identity.

The MiG-29K fighter aircraft had crashed on November 26 while operating over the Arabian Sea, said Indian Navy officials.

Another pilot who was also onboard the ill-fated plane was rescued soon after the mishap, which occurred mid-sea. The MiG-29K aircraft was operating from on board aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, off Goa.

It was the fourth MiG-29K crash since January 2018. India acquired 45 of these supersonic fighters for $2 billion from Russia to operate from INS Vikramaditya, which was inducted in November 2013 under a separate $2.33 billion deal.

The MiG-29K is an all-weather carrier-based multirole fighter aircraft developed by Russian aerospace company Mikoyan (MiG).

INS Vikramaditya was part of the second phase of the Malabar exercise involving navies of India, the US, Australia and Japan. The MiG-29K fleet on board the aircraft carrier was also involved in the mega naval drill that took place from November 17 to 20.