Panic gripped the entire airport area as the local population and the passengers, who witnessed aircraft in flames, took it for a Pakistani attack.

The incident took place at around 1.30 pm when the MiG-21 fighter aircraft had control difficulty and crashed at Srinagar IAF airbase, Group Captain Dillon told The Indian Express. He denied that the two aircraft had a mid-air collision after take off and said the MiGs were on routine sorties.

Regarding the cause of the crash, Dillon said, ``We don't know exactly yet what led to the crash but a court of enquiry has been ordered to investigate the matter.''

Sources in the IAF airbase however said that the MiG-21 fighteraircraft developed some technical snag soon after taking off at Runway 31 here, the other fighter aircraft following it around 1000 yards behind collided with it.

The pilot who died in the crash has been identified as Flying Officer G S Dhinsa while the other pilot who ejected safely is Fl. Lt. K S Deswal.

Tension gripped the entire airport area and the passengers waiting to board the Jammu and Delhi-bound flights started running in panic. Even the cops and the Central Reserve Police Force men on duty at the airport panicked. All the entrance gates of the airport were immediately sealed and passengers were asked to wait in the outside waiting hall. The airport was closed for civil traffic for two-and-half hours after the crash.

Director Airport Authorities, Srinagar Airport, V P Aggarwal said there has been no damage to the runways because of the crash. ``One aircraft crashed at the left side of the runway while the other fell at a distance from the runway,'' he said.