Dibrugarh, Feb. 16: An Air Force micro-light aircraft out on a routine patrol this morning developed a technical snag and was forced to land near the Chabua air force station from where it took off. The aircraft made the forced landing at Hatiali tea estate playground around 10.15am.

Police personnel who rushed to the site said one of the pilots had sustained minor injuries.

“Co-pilot L.S.C. Gloria sustained injury in his hand while the pilot, Wing Commander P. Bakshi, the pilot of the aircraft, is unhurt,” Chabua police station officer-in-charge Siddheswar Bora said.

Hundreds of workers from Hatiali and the nearby Sealkotee tea estate rushed to the site.

“I was grazing my cows when I heard the deafening sound of the aircraft falling. I did not know what was happening and ran towards the scene,” said Madan Munda, a resident of the tea estate.

As the news of the accident spread, teams from the IAF base at Chabua, the police and the army arrived at the scene for rescue operations.

The security forces immediately put a security cordon around the area and did not allow anyone near the scene.

Trampled: Two persons, Pashumati Baori, 23, and Abraham Badra, 21, were crushed to death by a herd of elephants at Laltin village in Nagaon district today.

AOC of Chabua air force station, Air Commodore Harpal Singh described the incident as a minor one.“It was a very small incident and both the pilots are safe.”

The Chabua air force station had organised a hang glider expedition show by squadron leader Ramakant and junior warrant officer S.K. Yadav later today.

Squadron leader Ramakant had made it to the Limca Book of Records for flying a hang glider at a height of 12,000 feet (solo flight) without oxygen and also covering the largest distance ever in a power hang glider (3,700 km) in the year 2007.