The Air Force has begun an investigation to determine whether a mid-air collision caused the crash of the IAF plane, according to defense sources
Bhopal: Two Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter jets,
a Sukhoi Su-30 and a Mirage 2000, crashed during a training exercise on
Saturday, resulting in the death of one pilot. The Sukhoi had two pilots, while
the Mirage had one pilot, according to defence sources. Both aircraft are
commonly used on the frontlines by the IAF.
 |
| Two Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter jets, a Sukhoi Su-30 and a Mirage 2000 |
The Sukhoi crashed in Morena, Madhya Pradesh, while the Mirage is believed to have gone down 100 km away in Rajasthan's Bharatpur. The two pilots on the Sukhoi managed to eject and were taken to the hospital in a helicopter. Both the fighter jets had taken off from the Gwalior Air Force base, which has squadrons of both the Russian-designed Sukhoi and the French Mirage 2000.
Two fighter aircraft of IAF were involved in an accident near Gwalior today morning. The aircraft were on routine operational flying training mission.
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) January 28, 2023
One of the three pilots involved, sustained fatal injuries. An inquiry has been ordered to determine the cause of the accident.
Videos from the scene, shot by locals in Morena, showed smoldering debris of the aircraft strewn on the ground. The Air Force has launched a probe to examine if a mid-air collision led to the crash, defence sources told.
"IAF court of inquiry has been launched to establish whether there was a mid-air collision or not. The Su-30 had two pilots while Mirage 2000 had one pilot during the crash. Initial reports suggest two pilots are safe while an IAF chopper reaching the location of the third pilot soon," sources said.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has been briefed by the Indian Air Force chief on the crash of two aircraft, news agency PTI reported. 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 tragic incident highlights the importance of proper training and safety measures for the Indian Air Force. The investigation into the cause of the crash will be crucial in determining what went wrong and how to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future. The IAF will also need to consider the potential impact on morale among pilots and other personnel.
Also Read: Breaking the Cycle: India's 50-Year Battle Against Female Foeticide
The Sukhoi Su-30 and Mirage 2000 are both advanced fighter jets that are considered among the best in their class. The Su-30 is a multirole fighter jet developed by Russia's Sukhoi Corporation, while the Mirage 2000 is a single-engine, delta wing, multirole fighter jet developed by Dassault Aviation of France. Both aircraft are commonly used in air-to-air combat and air-to-ground attacks.
The Indian Air Force operates a fleet of around 200 Sukhoi Su-30 and Mirage 2000 fighter jets. These aircraftare considered to be the backbone of the Indian Air Force's combat fleet, and play a crucial role in the country's defence capabilities. The loss of even one of these aircraft is a significant blow to the IAF, both in terms of the cost of the aircraft and the loss of the pilot.
Also Read: Pakistan's Rupee Depreciates to Lowest Against US Dollar in Open and Interbank Market
The crash of the two Indian Air Force fighter jets is a tragic incident that resulted in the death of one pilot. The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing and will be crucial in determining what went wrong and how to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future. The Sukhoi Su-30 and Mirage 2000 are both advanced fighter jets that play a crucial role in the Indian Air Force's combat capabilities. The loss of even one of these aircraft is a significant blow to the IAF, both in terms of the cost of the aircraft and the loss of the pilot.