Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd regrets death of 2 IAF pilots in Mirage 2000 crash

The two pilots, Squadron Leaders Samir Abrol and Siddartha Negi, hailed from Ghaziabad and Dehradun respectively.

Published: 01st February 2019 06:40 PM  |   Last Updated: 01st February 2019 06:40 PM   |  A+A A-

Mirage 2000 air crash

Air Force and HAL staff recover flight data recorder and other instruments at the crash site. (EPS| Pushkar VP)

By IANS

 

BENGALURU; The state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) on Friday regretted the Mirage-2000 fighter crash which killed two Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots during a test sortie in Bengaluru. "HAL expresses condolences to the grief-stricken families of the two pilots. The company has initiated an enquiry into the accident in coordination with the IAF," HAL said in a statement here.

Squadron Leader Samir Abrol and Squadron Leader Siddartha Negi died after the upgraded Mirage-2000 crashed on a test sortie at the military airport in the city's eastern suburb, an official told IANS. While Negi hailed from Dehradun in Uttarakhand, Abrol was from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh. They were both test pilots with the IAF's Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE).

The crashed Mirage-2000, which was upgraded by HAL, was developed by French aerospace major Dassault Aviation.