Madhya Pradesh: 1 IAF pilot martyred as Sukhoi-30, Mirage 2000 crash near Morena

Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh): Tragedy struck the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Saturday when two frontline fighter aircraft crashed near Morena in Madhya Pradesh.

The two IAF fighter aircraft - a Sukhoi-30 and a Mirage 2000 - which had taken off from the Gwalior air base in Madhya Pradesh, were taking part in an exercise.

A search operation has been launched to rescue the survivors.

Defence officials told the media that the Sukhoi-30 had two pilots while the Mirage 200 had one. All of them managed to eject. They were reportedly seriously injured and were admitted to a hospital where one of them succumbed to his injuries.

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"Two fighter aircraft of IAF were involved in an accident near Gwalior today 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," IAF said in a statement.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan expressed his shock at the incident.

"The news of the crash of Sukhoi-30 and Mirage-2000 aircraft of the Air Force near Kolaras in Morena is very sad. I have instructed the local administration to cooperate with the Air Force in quick rescue and relief work. I pray to God that the pilots of the planes are safe," he said in a statement on Twitter.

Also on Saturday, a chartered plane crashed in the Bharatpur district of Rajasthan.

A police team has reached the spot along with officials from the district administration.

More details are awaited.

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