The Indian Air Force has confirmed that two senior pilots were killed after they ejected from a Mirage 2000 fighter during its take-off run at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) runway in Yemalur in Bengaluru Friday morning.
The pilots have been identified as Squadron Leader Sameer Abrol and Squadron Leader Siddartha Negi, a statement by the HAL said.
The incident took place at 10.30 am. The Mirage 2000 is equipped with 'zero-zero' (zero speed, zero altitude) ejection seats which enable the pilots to bail out even if the aircraft is on the ground and is not moving. It is unclear at what stage of the take-off run the fighter was in when the pilots decided to eject.
The aircraft was on an acceptance sortie after an upgrade by the HAL.
The aircraft was on an acceptance sortie after an upgrade by the HAL. Investigation on the cause of the accident is being ordered, said an official.
The state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) makes and upgrades aircraft for training and combat operations of the IAF as the country's sole defence behemoth. It also maintains and operates the military airport in Bengaluru.
It is unclear at what stage of the take-off run the fighter was in when the pilots decided to eject.
The IAF operates 50 French-made Mirage 2000 fighters (after today's crash) which are in the process of being upgraded. The fighters started entering service in 1985.
Black Box Of Crashed Mirage Fighter Jet Found In Madhya Pradesh: Official Wife Of Pilot Killed In Bengaluru's Mirage 2000 Crash To Join Air Force Mirage 2000 Crash Not Set Back For Indigenisation: Nirmala Sitharaman Indian Airports, Borders On Alert As Global Mpox Cases Rise: 10 Points "My Intention Was To...": Sudha Murty Clarifies Raksha Bandhan Post Finances Of Kolkata Hospital During Ex-Principal's Tenure Under Scanner Biden To Pass Torch To Kamala Harris At Democratic Convention: 10 Points US Approves $3.5 Billion Sale Of Military Helicopters To South Korea Watch: Rahul Gandhi Takes An Uber To Share Plight Of Gig Workers Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.