Two pilots were killed when their Mirage 2000 trainer fighter aircraft crashed during take-off at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) airport in Bengaluru at 10.25 a.m on Friday. According to the Whitefield police, the plane crashed and burst into flames, which could be seen from miles around the airport in the heart of the city. Police said Squadron Leader Sameer Abrol and Squadron Leader Siddarth Negi, who were from the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE), died of their burn injuries in hospital. Both had ejected from the plane, but sustained severe burns by then, said officials, adding that the plane was on an acceptance sortie after an upgrade by the HAL. An inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident.
