New Delhi: Two Indian Air Force fighter jets crashed in Morena in Madhya Pradesh, Saturday, killing one pilot, in an apparent mid-air collision while on exercises.
The crash involved a Russian-made Sukhoi Su-30, carrying two pilots, and a French-built Mirage 2000, operated by a third.
Both aircraft had taken off in the morning from the Gwalior air base, around 50 kilometres east of where they came down.
"The aircraft were on routine operational flying training mission," the country's air force said in a statement, adding that one of the three pilots had sustained fatal injuries.
An investigation was underway to determine the cause of the crash, it added.
India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is in touch with Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Anil Chauhan and IAF chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari to gather details on the crash
Police officer Dharmender Gaur told AFP from the scene of the crash that another pilot had been found alive but injured in the forests of Padargarh.
"We have located the wreckage of one of the planes," the officer said. "The other plane has likely fallen further away from the site and we have sent teams to locate it."
Local authorities had been instructed to assist with the air force's rescue and relief work, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan tweeted.
"I pray to god that the pilots of the planes are safe," he added.
