India has grounded its ageing fleet of British-made Sea Harrier fighter jets to conduct safety inspections following a deadly crash last week, a navy official said Wednesday.
The 11 aircraft that were delivered in 1983 operate from India's only aircraft carrier, the INS Viraat, which is currently being refitted.
"The fleet has been grounded for immediate physical checks on all the flying controls," navy spokesman P.V.S. Satish told AFP.
"We're likely to finish that in 48 to 72 hours and thereafter the fleet will be cleared."
The decision came after a Sea Harrier crashed into the Arabian Sea Friday, 15 kilometres (nine miles) off the western state of Goa, killing the pilot.
In May, India grounded its fleet of Sukhoi-30s following the first ever crash involving one of the top of the line Russian-built jets.
The navy plans to replace the Sea Harrier jets with Russian-built MiG 29K aircraft.
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