Two pilots were injured after an army fighter jet crashed in Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh, on Thursday. The Mirage 2000, which was on a routine sortie, crashed into a field and erupted into flames.
The incident occurred near Sunari Chowki. According to reports, the fighter plane crashed near the village of Bahreta Sani in the district. Visuals from the crash site revealed pieces of the aircraft engulfed in flames, with plumes of smoke rising from the wreckage.
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"A Mirage 2000 aircraft of the IAF crashed near Shivpuri (Gwalior), during a routine training sortie today, after encountering a system malfunction. Both the pilots ejected safely.An enquiry has been ordered by the IAF, to ascertain the cause of the accident," IAF posted on X.
A Mirage 2000 aircraft of the IAF crashed near Shivpuri (Gwalior), during a routine training sortie today, after encountering a system malfunction. Both the pilots ejected safely.
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) February 6, 2025
An enquiry has been ordered by the IAF, to ascertain the cause of the accident.
Following the crash, local authorities swiftly dispatched a rescue team to the site.
Local villagers have gathered at the site and the injured pilots have been rushed to the hospital. A Court of Inquiry has been ordered to determine the cause of the crash, according to defence officials, as reported by the news agency ANI.
The Mirage 2000, a multirole fighter jet was developed by France's Dassault Aviation. It first flew in 1978 and was inducted into the French Air Force in 1984. A total of 600 Mirage 2000 aircraft were produced, with half of them being exported to eight countries, including India.