Two Indian Air Force planes collided in mid-air in the southern state of Karnataka on Tuesday while rehearsing an aerobatic show, killing one pilot and injuring two others. Two Indian Air Force jets crashed during a rehearsal session for an upcoming air show. The Hawk jets were seen spinning out of control before the nose of one plane clipped the tail of the other as they moved in the same direction while upside down. A civilian was also injured by falling debris as the stricken planes landed near a residential area. Wing Commander Sahil Gandhi was named by local media as the man killed in the crash, with the two other pilots of team 2IC Wing Commander Vijay Shelke and Squadron Leader Tejeshwar Singh
The defense ministry confirmed that two Hawk aircraft of the Surya Kiran Aerobatic Display Team had crashed near the Yelahanka Air Force Base.
The aerobatic team was scheduled to perform at Aero India 2019, a five-day airshow expected to draw nearly 500 Indian and foreign aviation firms and defense contractors.It was the second deadly accident involving Indian Air Force aircraft this month. A Mirage 2000 trainer crashed in the southern city of Bengaluru on Feb. 1, killing two pilots.
