Two IAF Aircraft Crash During Training Exercise in Madhya Pradesh
The Wire Staff
Real journalism holds power accountable
Since 2015, The Wire has done just that.
But we can continue only with your support.
New Delhi: Two Indian Air Force fighter jets – a Sukhoi Su-30 and a Mirage 2000 – crashed in Madhya Pradesh during a training exercise at 5:30 am on Saturday (January 28).
The Su-30 had two pilots while Mirage 2000 had one pilot, NDTV reported. The IAF said in a tweet that one of the pilots had "sustained fatal injuries".
Local police found out about the crash at around 10 am on Saturday morning, ANI reported. According to PTI, one aircraft fell in Morena in Madhya Pradesh and the other went down in the general area around Bharatpur, Rajasthan.
According to the Indian Express, initial reports suggest the crash was due to a mid-air collision, but there has been no confirmation on this yet. Defence minister Rajnath Singh was reportedly briefed on the crash by IAF chief Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari.
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."
This article went live on January twenty-eighth, two thousand twenty three, at twelve minutes past one in the afternoon.The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.