Mirage 2000 trainer fighter aircraft crashes at Bengaluru's HAL Airport; two pilots dead

Two pilots died after a Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) fighter aircraft crashed in Bengaluru on Friday. The Mirage 2000 trainer fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed at the HAL Airport in Yemlur around 10.30 am. Even though both the pilots ejected, one died after landing on the aircraft’s wreckage, reported ANI. A Defence public relations officer said, “This morning, a Mirage 2000 trainer aircraft on an acceptance sortie after upgrade crashed at the HAL Airport, Bengaluru.”  

#Visuals: Mirage 2000 trainer fighter aircraft of HAL crashes at HAL Airport in Bengaluru, one pilot dead. #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/oM4CUEPu97

— ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019

The other pilot succumbed to injuries after he was rushed to the hospital. ANI identified the test pilots as Squadron Leader Samir Abrol and Squadron Leader Siddhartha Negi. Firefighters and the ground staff at the HAL airport swung into action to douse the flames, according to PTI. The HAL crash comes only a few days after an Indian Air Force Jaguar fighter jet crashed in Uttar Pradesh’s Kushinagar. The aircraft crashed during a routine sortie on Monday and caught fire. The pilot ejected safely and a court of inquiry was ordered to investigate the incident. Another Jaguar crash reported in June 2018 in Kutch, Gujarat resulted in the death of Air Commodore Sanjay Chauhan.