IAF Mirage 2000 aircraft crashes at HAL-airport, 1 pilot dead
A Mirage 2000 aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed at the HAL Airport in Bengaluru this morning, killing a pilot on the spot and leaving another critically injured. "The body of one of the pilots is completely charred while the second pilot is in a serious condition," an officer at the HAL Airport police station said. Read the details here.
Deceased pilot identified as Squadron Leader Siddharth Negi
The deceased pilot has been identified as Squadron Leader Siddharth Negi and the other one is Squadron Leader Sameer Abrol. According to HAL, the incident occurred at Yemalur area of Bengaluru at 10.30 am during a sortie (deployment of defense troops to make an attack). The aircraft crashed due to technical-snag, HAL sources said, adding, "the pilots were out for a general training session."
The aircraft crashed into blockade near the runway
"Mirage 2000 is a training aircraft." said the sources. However, it "didn't take off properly" and crashed into the blockade near the runway. The pilots ejected on time but their parachutes caught fire and one of them died, said the sources in HAL. The injured one is "undergoing treatment at command hospital." The pilots were part of Aircraft and System Testing Establishment in Bengaluru.
Fire fighters and airport ground-staff worked together to douse flames
The plane went up in flames as it crashed with an explosion and thick smoke billowed from the spot, leaving passers-by and residents living around the airport in shock. Many of them even shared the footage of the incident on Twitter. Fire-fighters and the ground staff at the HAL airport swung into action to douse the flames. An investigation is underway, HAL sources said.
