IAF Surya Kiran Aircraft Collide While Rehearsing for AeroIndia-2019, One Dead

Two Surya Kiran Hawks belonging to the Indian Air Force (IAF) collided mid-air Tuesday morning while rehearsing for AeroIndia-2019 scheduled to begin on February 20.

The collision took place while the jets were performing a spin-manoeuver at Yelahanka airbase in Bengaluru, located in southern India.

A total of three pilots were on the two jets that collided and crashed. One pilot died in the crash while the other two ejected safely. A civilian has also been reportedly injured in the mishap.

Further deatils are awaited.

Surya Kiran is an aerobatics demonstration team of the IAF. The squadron was previously composed of the HAL HJT-16 Kiran Mk.2 military trainer aircraft till 2011. The team was suspended in February 2011 and was re-established with Hawk Mk-132 aircraft in 2017.