NEW DELHI: Two Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter jets – Sukhoi-30 and Mirage 2000 – crashed in Madhya Pradesh’s Morena district on Saturday morning after an accident during a routine training mission.
According to IAF officials, the two pilots of the Sukhoi-30MKI plane ejected safely, while the pilot of the Mirage-2000 lost his life.
“The two aircraft involved in the accident were on a routine flight training mission. One of the three pilots involved suffered fatal injuries. An investigation has been ordered to determine the cause of the accident,” the IAF said.
Two IAF fighter jets were involved in an accident near Gwalior this morning. The planes were routinely on the move… https://t.co/Aqld3jX9gh
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) 1674892245000
An IAF court of inquiry will determine whether the collision was a mid-air collision.
Morena district collector Ankit Asthana said debris from both planes fell in the Pahargarh area of the district. Some debris also fell in the Bharatpur area of Rajasthan, which borders Madhya Pradesh, he added.
According to Defense Department sources, “Union Secretary of Defense Rajnath Singh was briefed on the crash by the Chief of Air Staff. He inquired about the well-being of the IAF pilots and is closely monitoring developments.”
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said in a tweet: “The news of the crash of Air Force Sukhoi-30 and Mirage-2000 aircraft near Kolaras in Morena is very sad. I have directed local government to work with the Air Force on expeditious rescue and relief efforts. I pray to God the plane pilots are safe.”
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– Shivraj Singh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) 1674887153000
Former Prime Minister of Madhya Pradesh Kamal Nath also took to Twitter to express his concerns. “Sad news has been received of the crash of Air Force Sukhoi-30 and Mirage-2000 aircraft near Kolaras in Morena,” the head of the State Congress tweeted.
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— Kamal Nath (@OfficeOfKNath) 1674888830000
Watch IAF plane Sukhoi, Mirage crash in Morena, 1 pilot killed