MP: IAF Mirage 2000 fighter jet crashes near Shivpuri; both pilots eject safely
PTC Web Desk: A twin-seater Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed near Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh, during a routine training sortie on Thursday. Officials confirmed that both pilots ejected safely.
Following the incident, the IAF announced that a court of inquiry has been initiated to determine the cause of the crash.
In a statement on X, the IAF said, "A Mirage 2000 aircraft of the IAF crashed near Shivpuri (Gwalior) during a routine training sortie today after encountering a system malfunction. Both pilots ejected safely. An inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident."
The Mirage 2000, a multirole fighter jet developed by France’s Dassault Aviation, first took flight in 1978 and was officially inducted into the French Air Force in 1984. Of the 600 units produced, nearly half were exported to eight countries, including India, as per Dassault’s website.
The IAF operates both single-seater and twin-seater variants of the Mirage 2000. The aircraft played a crucial role in the Kargil War, executing precise laser-guided bomb strikes on enemy-held hilltops. It was also instrumental in the Balakot airstrikes in February 2019, targeting a terrorist camp deep inside Pakistan.
- With inputs from agencies
