An Indian Air Force pilot was killed after two fighter jets, a Sukhoi Su-30 and a Mirage- 2000 crashed in Madhya Pradesh on Saturday. While the two Su-30 pilots received minor injuries, the Mirage pilot died in the crash after being fatally injured. The wreckage of the crashed aircraft was discovered in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, and Morena, Madhya Pradesh.
“Two jets—Mirage and Sukhoi—took off from Gwalior in the morning. According to the Indian Air Force, one aircraft had two pilots, while the other had one; two were safely rescued, and the body parts of the third were found. “Some parts of the jet were found in Bharatpur (Raj), and details are being collected,” Morena SP said.
The IAF said in the statement that “two fighter aircraft of the IAF were involved in an accident near Gwalior this morning.” The aircraft was on a routine operational flying training mission. One of the three pilots involved sustained fatal injuries. “An inquiry has been ordered to determine the cause of the accident.” Sukhoi-30 and Mirage 2000 aircraft crashed near Morena, Madhya Pradesh. Search and rescue operations have been launched.
Videos from the scene, shot by locals in Morena, showed debris from the aircraft on the ground. Both the fighter jets had taken off from the Gwalior Air Force base. Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Adarsh Katiyar said that the cause of the crash is not clear yet. “It is not clear whether the planes collided against each other or not,” he said. Two pilots ejected safely, but the third is missing, he said.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said in a tweet, “The news of the crash of Sukhoi-30 and Mirage-2000 aircraft of the Air Force near Kolaras in Morena is very sad. I have instructed the local administration to cooperate with the Air Force in quick rescue and relief work. I pray to God that the pilots of the planes are safe.”
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh looked at the situation and spoke to IAF Chief VR Chaudhari. He is continuously monitoring the situation.
“Rajnath Singh was briefed by the Chief of Air Staff on the crash of two aircraft of the Indian Air Force. The defense minister enquired about the well-being of the IAF pilots and is monitoring the developments closely.
“The possible mid-air collision between the two aircraft took place when they were flying a simulated combat mission at very high speeds. “More details would come out in the court of inquiry,” they added.
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