An Indian Air Force MiG 23 fighter plane on Monday crashed near Mahianwala village, about 30km from Ferozepur in Punjab, police said in Chandigarh.

The pilot bailed out safely and there were no casualties, Ferozepur Senior Superintendent of Police Praveen Kumar Sinha told PTI by telephone.

A few electricity poles were uprooted when the plane crashed into the fields near the village, he said.

The MiG, on a routine sortie, had taken off from Halwara base in Ludhiana in Punjab in the morning, the SSP said.

The plane, after hitting the ground, skidded for about 500metres and also uprooted a temporary structure in the field, witnesses said adding it then gained height and crashed.

The IAF has ordered a court of inquiry into the mishap, IAF sources said.

In April this year, a MiG 23 had crashed in Ludhiana, killing four persons.

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