A Sukhoi-30 and Mirage 2000 aircrafts have crashed near Morena in Madhya Pradesh wherein 2 pilots were found severely injured while one is reportedly dead, sources said on Saturday.
“A Sukhoi-30 and Mirage 2000 aircraft have crashed near Morena, Madhya Pradesh. Search and rescue operations have been launched,” defence sources said. The IAF has ordered a court of inquiry.
“Two jets -Mirage & Sukhoi- took off from Gwalior in the morning. As per IAF, one aircraft had 2 pilots, while the other had one; 2 have been safely rescued, while the body parts of 3rd have been found. Some parts of the jet were found in Bharatpur (Rajasthan). Further details are being collected,” SP Morena said.
Initial reports suggested the two pilots are safe while an IAF team is reaching the spot soon in a chopper to ascertain the condition of the third pilot, according to Defence sources. An IAF court of inquiry will establish whether the accident happened due to a mid-air collision or not.
The two aircraft had taken off from the Gwalior air base in Madhya Pradesh where an exercise was going on.
Further details are awaited