New Delhi: With the newly-acquired UK-made Hawk jet trainer meeting with an accident, the Indian Air Force's new pilot training programme scheduled to begin in July seems to be in jeopardy. An inquiry has already been initiated into the causes of the crash of the trainer plane in Bidar in Karnataka on Wednesday (April 30, 2008), which comes close to the "teething problems" the jets faced soon after their acquisitions in 2007.

The accident of the aircraft which left the fighter reportedly crippled has put a big question mark on the IAF's new pilot training programme which was to commence in July 2008, Defence Ministry sources said in New Delhi today.

IAF was to commence the training of its pilots for the final flying courses from July when it was expected to receive 20 of the 24 fighters to be bought in fly away conditions from the British manufacturers.

The Hawk which crashed on Wednesday was one of the 10 delivered to the IAF. This was the first accident involving the Hawk jets, which IAF has acquired to impart advanced jet training to its pilots in the wake of spate of air crashes involving its MIG-21 fighters.

According to IAF sources, the Hawks are facing major problems due to supply of "recycled old spares".

The issue of trainers is going to be in focus of discussions during visit of Defence Secretary Vijay Singh to UK later in May. India has signed a deal worth Rs 8,000 crores for acquiring 66 Hawk advanced jet trainers, of which 10 have been inducted. (PTI)