MP: IAF's Su-30, Mirage 2000 aircraft crash; 1 pilot dead
Two fighter jets of the Indian Air Force crashed near Morena, Madhya Pradesh, on Saturday, ANI reported citing defense sources. The crashed aircraft included a Sukhoi Su-30 and a Mirage 2000, said the news agency. A search and rescue operation was launched immediately after the incident. One of the three pilots of these fighter jets succumbed to injuries, reported The Indian Express.
Preliminary reports suggest mid-air collision
The incident took place at around 5:30 am on Saturday, TIE reported. Preliminary reports hinted at a mid-air collision. Earlier on Saturday, the jets took off from the Gwalior air base as part of a drill. The pilots were grievously injured in the crash, resulting in the death of one of them, per TIE. However, the IAF is yet to confirm the details officially.
Watch: Wreckage of one of the crashed fighter jets
Wreckage of Mirage 2000 found in Rajasthan: Reports
Meanwhile, the Rajasthan Police told ANI that they found the debris of crashed aircraft in Ucchain of the state's Bharatpur district on Saturday. They didn't clarify whether it was a helicopter or a fighter jet. However, several reports suggested the wreckage found in Rajasthan could be of Mirage 2000. One of the IAF jets went down in the general area around Bharatpur, reported India.com.
Visuals of wreckage found in Rajasthan
IAF briefed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh; inquiry ordered
Meanwhile, a high-level inquiry has been ordered into the crash incident by the IAF. "Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was briefed by the Chief of Air Staff Marshal (Vivek Ram Chaudhari) on the crash," according to ANI. "The defense minister inquired about the well-being of the IAF pilots and is monitoring the developments closely," it said, quoting defense sources.
Significance of Sukhoi Su-30 in the IAF
The Sukhoi Su-30 was first inducted into the IAF in 1997 and has been upgraded to suit Indian conditions since then. Though it is originally Russian, it is manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Several Su-30 crashes have been recorded in the past with no casualties. The IAF previously recorded several crashes due to technical and human errors as well.
Mirage 2000's crucial role in Kargil War, surgical strikes
Commissioned in 1985, Mirage 2000 is capable of launching nuclear strikes. The French jet fighter played a crucial role in the Kargil war, and a modified version was used to target terror camps after the 2019 Pulwama attack. At least 580 Mirage 2000s across multiple variants are manufactured and flown by eight countries, including India. It also reported some crashes previously, including in 2019.
