Pilot killed as Sukhoi, Mirage fighter jets crash in MP, IAF orders inquiry

Two Indian Air Force fighter jets- a Sukhoi 30MKI and a Mirage-2000 aircraft crashed in Madhya Pradesh's Morena district during a routine training mission on Saturday.

While two pilots of the Sukhoi aircraft ejected safely, Wg Cdr Hanumanth Rao Sarathi the pilot of the Mirage-2000 lost his life.

The two fighter jets had flown from the Gwalior airport, which also serves as an IAF base.

IAF in a statement said, the fighter jets were on a routine operational flying training mission and an inquiry has been ordered to determine the cause of the accident.

Morena District Collector Ankit Asthana confirmed that the debris of both aircraft fell in the Pahargarh area of the district. Some debris also fell in the Bharatpur area in Rajasthan, which borders Madhya Pradesh.

According to PTI, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was briefed by the Chief of Air Staff Air on the crash.