2 pilots killed as aircraft catches fire mid-air

Bidar, Mar 18 (UNI) Two pilots of the Indian Air Force's, Suryakiran Aerobatics team, were killed when their aircraft caught fire in mid-air and crashed, barely a few kilometres from the air base here, today.

Sources said the accident occurred around 0920 hrs when the team members were performing their routine sorties in three Kiran MK-II aircraft. As soon as it caught fire, the aircraft started plunging and crashed on the ground behind the S B Patil Dental College at Naubad area on the outskirts of Bidar town.

The deceased were identified as Wg Cdr S S Bhatia and Sqn Ldr Shailendra Singh. The two senior officers of the famous aerobatics team had over 1,000 hours of flying to their credit. Their bodies were recovered immediately after the mishap.

The IAF authorities have ordered an inquiry into the incident, the sources said.

The police told UNI that no civilian casualty was reported from the area.

UNI MV RG VD KN1715