An Indian Air Force fighter jet has crashed in the northern Indian state of Punjab but the pilot has escaped unhurt.

India has lost a number of MiG aircraft with more than 100 crashes in the past 10 year

The Russian-built MiG-23 aircraft came down on a field outside a village, reports quoted a defence ministry spokesman as saying.

It had taken off from an air base at Haldwara, some 275 kilometres (170 miles) north of the Indian capital, Delhi.

The pilot ejected safely and there are no reports of any casualties.

An investigation has been ordered into the accident.

Poor record

Last month seven people died after an Indian Air Force MiG-21 fighter jet crashed into an office building in Punjab.

Last month a MiG crashed into an office building

The aircraft was on a routine training exercise when it appeared to suffer mechanical failure.

India has lost a number of MiG aircraft with more than 100 crashes in the past 10 years.

Lack of training facilities and poor maintenance have been blamed for the crashes.

A plan to buy advanced jet training aircraft for the Indian Air Force has been delayed.

More than half of India's jet fighters were built in the former Soviet Union - others are from Britain and France.