Gorakhpur, Jan. 29 -- A Jaguar fighter plane of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed in a field after exploding and going up in flames in Hatimpur locality of Kushinagar district around Monday noon. The pilot, wing commander Rohit Katoch, 36, ejected safely but not before steering his burning aircraft few kilometres away from a rural residential area, where it crashed barely 15 minutes after it took off from Gorakhpur air base along with two other Jaguars for routine exercise. The crash triggered panic among locals, who rushed to the site, Kushinagar district magistrate Anil Kumar said. While the cause of the crash is not known, a court of inquiry has been ordered by Gorakhpur air force officials. Kumar said, "The pilot showed courage and presence of mind by diverting the plane away from populated area towards the Chhoti Gandak river but it crashed midway in a field after catching fire. He saved his life by jumping off the plane when it was just about 150 metres from crash site. He is fine and undergoing treatment at Gorakhpur air force hospital."...