NEW DELHI, Feb 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Two pilots were killed as a twin-seater Indian Air Force Mirage 2000 crashed at Yemlur Airport in the southern city of Bengaluru immediately after taking off.
“Two pilots were killed after they ejected from a Mirage 2000 fighter
during its take-off run at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited runway in
Yemalur in Bengaluru this morning,” Indian Air Force officials said.
The Friday incident took place at 10:30 am (local time). 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 Indian Air Force (IAF) operates 50 French-made Mirage 2000 fighters
which are in the process of being upgraded. The fighters started entering service in 1985.
The authorities have ordered to investigate the cause of accident, the officials said. — NNN-AGENCIES
