Two Hawk jet aircraft from the Indian Air Force’s Surya Kiran aerobatic team collided mid-air in Bengaluru this morning, killing one pilot, reports India Today.
The jets crashed while rehearsing for the upcoming Aero India, a biennial air show that is held in Bengaluru.
News agency PTI quoted MN Reddi, the DGP of fire services, as saying that one pilot succumbed to injuries. Two other pilots manged eject safely while a civilian was hurt in the Surya Kiran collision and crash.
The two Surya Kiran jets crashed while rehearsing at the Yelahanka Airbase in Bengaluru. The Surya Kiran is an aerobatic team of the Indian Air Force that is renowned for performing breathtaking mid-air stunts.
Angad Singh, an aviation enthusiast present at the crash site, said on Twitter that three pilots were involved in the crash.
Singh put out a series of photos from the crash. "One aircraft was flying with both seats occupied," he tweeted. "I see smoke and saw two chutes.