From correspondents in Delhi, India, 11:01 AM IST

An Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter aircraft crashed near Jodhpur in Rajasthan Friday but the pilot ejected safely, an official here said.

The MiG 27 combat jet on a routine sortie crashed at about 8.10 a.m. in Luni, 40 km south of Jodhpur.

'The pilot managed to eject in time. A court of inquiry has been ordered into the incident,' said an IAF spokesperson.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)