Guwahati: Two Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter jets, a Sukhoi Su-30 and a Mirage 2000 crashed earlier on Saturday during a training exercise near Morena in Madhya Pradesh, resulting in the death of one pilot.
According to officials, two other Sukhoi pilots who bailed from their aircraft were retrieved and flown to the hospital in a helicopter while the body parts of one pilot were recovered.
While one aircraft crashed in Morena, the other crashed and landed in Bharatpur of Rajasthan.
“The possible mid-air collision between the two aircrafts took place when they were flying a simulated combat mission at very high speeds. More details would come out in the court of inquiry,” Defence sources said.
According to defence sources, the Sukhoi had two pilots while the Mirage only had one. The Indian Air Force (IAF) uses both planes in combat. The Sukhoi’s two pilots were able to escape the aircraft and were flown by helicopter to the hospital. The incidence has been reported to the pilot of the Mirage’s family, who lost their loved one.
Superintendent of Police, Morena Ashutosh Bagree, said that information was being gathered on aircraft wreckage that was discovered near Bharatpur and was initially thought to be from a charter plane.
Officials and members of the local government are on the scene.
According to defence sources, an IAF court of inquiry will determine whether or not the disaster was caused by a mid-air collision.
Sources further added that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is in touch with Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Anil Chauhan and IAF chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari to gather details on the crash.