Source : Hindustan Times
 |
| While the two pilots on the Su-30 sustained minor injuries, the pilot on the Mirage died after being fatally wounded in the crash (Image from PTI) |
An Indian Air Force or IAF pilot succumbed to his injuries after two fighter jets — a Sukhoi 30 and a Mirage 2000 — crashed near Morena in Madhya Pradesh on Saturday morning.
“Two fighter aircraft of IAF were involved in an accident near Gwalior today morning. The aircraft were on 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,” the IAF said in a statement
Confirming the incident, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said he has instructed the local administration to cooperate with the air force in quick rescue and relief work.
“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,” Chouhan tweeted in Hindi.
Additional director general of police (ADGP) Adarsh Katiyar told news agency PTI 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.
The IAF court of inquiry to establish whether there was a mid-air collision or not. The Su-30 had two pilots, while Mirage 2000 had one pilot during the crash. Initial reports suggest two pilots are safe, while an IAF chopper reaching the location of the third pilot soon, defence sources told ANI.
“Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh was briefed by the Chief of Air Staff on the crash of two aircraft of the Indian Air Force. Raksha Mantri enquired about the well-being of the IAF pilots and is monitoring the developments closely,” defence ministry sources told HT.
