IAF fighter jets collide mid-air in Madhya Pradesh's Morena, pilot dead

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 28

An Indian Air Force fighter jet pilot, Wing Commander Hanumanth Rao Sarathi, was killed after two jets of the IAF were involved in a mid-air collision over Morena in Madhya Pradesh.

Two other pilots, who were in the other jet, are safe as they managed to eject.

Four years ago, two Hawk aircraft of IAF’s aerobatic team had crashed in Bengaluru after collision

Deeply anguished over the loss of air warrior Wing Commander HR Sarathi... Condolences to his family: Rajnath Singh

The two ill-fated jets, a Russian-origin Sukhoi 30MKI and a French-origin Mirage 2000, had taken off from Gwalior this morning. The Sukhoi was being flown by two pilots, who survived, while the Mirage 2000 was being flown by Wing Commander Sarathi.

Were on routine mission

The aircraft were on routine flying training mission. One of the three pilots involved sustained fatal injuries. — Air Force statement

The IAF said, “Fighter aircraft were involved in an accident near Gwalior this morning. The aircraft were on routine operational flying training mission. One of the three pilots involved sustained fatal injuries.”

An inquiry has been ordered to determine the cause of the accident.

Sources said the debris of the two jets was strewn across several kilometres. The Mirage 2000 crashed over Morena immediately after the collision. This indicates that the plane took the major blow and it did not allow the pilot to eject.

The Sukhoi was in the air for a longer period and the pilots ejected later. Debris of the two jets was strewn across Morena and Bharatpur district in adjoining Rajasthan.

The Mirage is much lighter as compared to the Sukhoi.

The Mirage 2000 has an all-up weight of 17 tonnes. This includes the plane’s weight, fuel and armament. The all-up weight of the Sukhoi 30 MKI is 38 tonnes. Both planes were not carrying any armaments.

Official sources said in exercise and in practice, combat jet pilots fly close to each other. The radar on board picks up distant objects and part of the flying is visual and is done at speeds in excess of 600 kmph.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was briefed by the IAF Chief, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, on the crash of two aircraft.

Probe ordered

• A Russian-origin Sukhoi 30MKI & a French-origin Mirage 2000 took off from Gwalior on Saturday morning
• The Sukhoi was being flown by two pilots, who survived, while the Mirage was being flown by Wing Commander Sarathi, who died
• The debris of the two jets was strewn across several kilometres; an inquiry has been ordered into the accident

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