Two IAF fighter jets crash during training exercise in Madhya Pradesh

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.

The Su-30 had two pilots while Mirage 2000 had one pilot, NDTV reported. Two pilots are safe but seriously injured, and have been taken to hospital. A search and rescue operation is being conducted to look for the third pilot, according to the channel.

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.”

Agencies