Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Ramadan 17, 1445 H
broken clouds
weather
OMAN
23°C / 23°C
EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

2 IAF aircraft collide, crash in Bengaluru

air-crash--pic
air-crash--pic
minus
plus

Bengaluru: IAF pilot Wing Commander Sahil Gandhi died on Tuesday after two Surya Kiran aircraft collided in the air and crashed while rehearsing near the Yelahanka airbase in Bengaluru where the ‘Aero India 2019’ air show begins on Wednesday.


“Gandhi sustained fatal injuries while two other aircrew, Wing Commander V T Shelke and Squadron Leader TJ Singh, ejected and were airlifted to Air Force Command Hospital in the city,” an IAF statement said.


The crash occurred around noon on the outskirts of the airbase in the northern part of the city in an open field close to a residential area.


The twin aircraft were Hawk advanced jet trainers and part of the nine-aircraft Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) which displays dare devilry feats and breath-taking formations in the air.


According to witnesses, the two aircraft that were rehearsing for the aerobatic display collided into each other in the air, thereby spiralling


and crashing onto the ground below and exploding into fire, billowing thick black smoke in the sky.


Two pilots were seen ejecting out of the crashing aircraft using parachutes and got injured when they landed on the ground, said residents of a nearby residential locality.


Karnataka Director General of Police and chief of Fire and Emergency Services MN Reddi said there were no injuries to any civilian on the ground.


“No major damage to any house in ISRO colony. Fire force has completely suppressed the fire,” Reddi tweeted.


The aircraft has been rehearsing at the airbase since February 14 for the 5-day biennial 12th edition of Aero India expo, where global aerospace majors participate to showcase their technologies and products, including fighters, helicopters, military transport aircraft and passenger jets for civil airlines. — IANS


SHARE ARTICLE
arrow up
home icon