IAF's Sukhoi, Mirage aircraft crash in MP's Morena; one pilot killed
New Delhi/Morena (PTI): A Sukhoi 30MKI and a Mirage-2000 aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed in Madhya Pradesh's Morena district during a routine training mission on Saturday, killing a pilot and injuring two who ejected safely.
Officials said the two pilots of the Sukhoi-30MKI aircraft ejected safely while the pilot of the Mirage-2000 lost his life.
"Two fighter aircraft of IAF were involved in an accident near Gwalior today morning," the Indian Air Force (IAF) said in a statement.
It said the aircraft were on a routine operational flying training mission. "One of the three pilots involved, sustained fatal injuries. An inquiry has been ordered to determine the cause of the accident," the IAF said.
Morena District Collector Ankit Asthana said debris of both aircraft fell in the Pahargarh area of the district. Some debris also fell in the Bharatpur area in Rajasthan, which borders Madhya Pradesh, he added.
The two fighter jets had flown from the Gwalior airport, which also serves as an IAF base, the official said.
Two pilots survived the crash, Asthana said, adding that body parts of another were found in the Pahargarh area.
Defence Ministry sources said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was briefed by Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari on the crash of two IAF aircraft.
Singh is monitoring the developments closely, the sources said.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in a tweet said, "The news of the crash of Sukhoi-30 and Mirage-2000 aircraft of the Air Force near Kolaras in Morena is very sad."
"I have instructed the local administration to cooperate with the Air Force in quick rescue and relief work. I pray to God that the pilots of the planes are safe," he said.
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Godman Ashok Kharat seems linked to Ajit Pawar plane crash, CID should probe: Rohit Pawar
Pune (PTI): NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar on Tuesday alleged that Nashik-based godman Ashok Kharat is prima facie linked to the fatal plane crash involving his uncle and then Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, and demanded his interrogation by the CID.
Speaking to reporters after visiting the CID office in Pune to take stock of the status of the plane crash investigation, he alleged that some occult rituals had been performed outside late Ajit Pawar's house through a small political leader in Baramati.
"A goat was found hanging near Ajitdada's house. Kharat had told a farmer that an attack on the Pawar family could happen in the near future. A small political leader from Baramati used to visit Kharat for rituals and was in contact with leaders close to Ajitdada," he alleged.
Why was there a sudden increase in transactions in Kharat's account on January 27 and 28? he asked.
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Kharat was arrested in March for allegedly sexually exploiting several women and cheating people.
"Kharat's involvement appears to be linked to Ajit Pawar's accident, and the CID should investigate him. Kharat had stored some videos for blackmail, while video clips of common women have surfaced," Rohit Pawar added.
On the status of the CID probe, Rohit Pawar said he visited the office to submit "some evidence" regarding the fatal plane crash.
"It's been three months since the fatal plane crash. The first time we came, Sunil Ramanand (ADG, CID) was present. The second time, some other officers were there. Today, key officials were not present; they had gone to Mumbai for a cricket match," he said.
A Learjet 45 aircraft, operated by VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd, crashed at Baramati airport on the morning of January 28 while en route from Mumbai to Baramati, killing Ajit Pawar and four others.
Rohit Pawar had lodged the “Zero” FIR last month in Bengaluru under Section 173(1) of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, weeks after the fatal incident.
He alleged that instead of conducting a proper investigation, they (CID officials) are talking about conducting an inquiry.
"The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has sent us information. The aircraft's technical records are stored in the FDA system. The National Transportation Safety Board has been involved in this case. Earlier, they said the CVR (Cockpit Voice Recorder) was burnt, now they are saying all the data has been downloaded. However, the real investigation should be handled by the CID," the NCP (SP) leader added.
ADG Ramanand had earlier said that the CID was already probing an Accidental Death Report registered with Pune Rural Police following the plane crash.
"The Zero FIR received from Bengaluru will be treated as a statement under Section 180 of the BNSS and factored into our probe,” he had said.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) under the Ministry of Civil Aviation is conducting a separate inquiry and submitted its preliminary findings on February 28.
