Kiran trainer aircraft crashes in Ch'nagar, both pilots eject safely

MYSURU: Two pilots on a training sortie in an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft had a narrow escape, when it crashed near a village, located 9km from Chamarajanagar town, on Thursday.
The pilots ejected safely, from the aircraft that crashed on barren land in the parched plains of Chamarajanagar district. The pilots were administered first-aid before being airlifted to Bengaluru. A court of inquiry (CoI) has beenordered to ascertain the cause of the accident.

The IAF, in a statement, informed that a Kiran trainer aircraft crashed while on a routine training sortie. It stated that both the aircrew ejected safely.
"Both the pilots are safe. We cordoned off the crash site after the incident," said Chamarajanagar SP Padmini Sahoo.
According to residents of Bogapura, they came to know about the crash after hearing a loud noise at an isolated site on the outskirts of the village. It crashed in a graveyard, said villagers.
"I was working in the field when the incident happened," said Nanjundegowda, a Bogapura GP member. "At first we heard a loud noise. When we ran towards the direction of the noise, we saw aircraft debris. Villagers were afraid to go near the crash site initially," he added. The crash site was vacant revenue land, he said. There was no damage or loss of property, he added.
The two pilots safely landed at the adjacent village of Mangala, informed Adishesha Murthy B, panchayat development officer, Mangala gram panchayat. "They safely landed on dry land. The distance between the crash site and this area is around 3.5km to 4km," he said.
Somshekar KS, another member of the Bogapura gram panchayat who was one of the first to reach out to the pilots, said that both of them were fine after landing safely by using parachutes. "We offered water to the pilots. The trainer pilot had minor injuries on his lip. I asked him if he wanted to visit the local hospital. When I informed that the nearest hospital is located 12-14km away, he preferred returning to Bengaluru. Helicopters came immediately," he said.
According to eyewitnesses, three IAF helicopters reached the site within 30 minutes of the crash. The injured pilots were airlifted in the helicopters, they said. Senior officials from the district administration and police department rushed to the spot. Fire tenders were also rushed to the spot to douse the fire. The police barricaded the entire area, to prevent the public from entering the crash site.
Chamarajanagar additional deputy commissioner S Katyinidevi said that district administration has extended support to the IAF in the rescue operation, apart from directing the police to provide security at the crash site, as a large number of curious people from near Bogapura village flocked there to witness the tragedy. IAF personnel will collect the debris for inspection.