BENGALURU — A pilot was killed and two others ejected to safety when two aircraft of IAF’s aerobatic team Surya Kiran crashed near the Yelahanka airbase on Tuesday, a day before the opening of the Aero India show, a top police official told PTI.
The mishap occurred during a sortie as part of the rehearsal for the five-day Asia’s premier Air show. The two aircrafts collided while practicing a manoeuvre, News18 reported.
“There were three pilots, one has died, two are safe with injuries,” DGP Fire Services MN Reddi who rushed to the spot told PTI.
A civilian was also injured in the mishap, police said.
“I’m aware of it (incident),” Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, but did not elaborate further when asked about the accident. She said this on the sidelines of an event in Bengaluru.
The Indian Air Force said a court of inquiry would investigate the cause of the accident.