Navy's Kiran MK II crashes during air show at Hyderabad, both pilots killed

A view of the aerobatic display by the Navy's Sagar Pawan team seconds before one of the Kiran MK II aircraft crashed in Hyderabad on March 3, 2010.

An aircraft that was part of the Indian Navy's Sagar Pawan Aerobatic Team crashed during an air show in Hyderabad today, killing both the pilots, a spokesman for the Navy said.

The Kiran MK II aircraft was taking part in a display at India Aviation 2010, the second International Exhibition and Conference on Civil Aviation that began in Hyderabad today.

The pilots were identified as Commander S K Maurya and Lieutenant Commander Rahul Nair. "Both were killed in the crash," the spokesman said in a statement. According to him, both the pilots were based in Goa.

The Navy has ordered a Board of Inquiry to investigate the circumstances leading to the crash. The other three aircraft in the formation landed safely, he added.

The aircraft crashed into a three-storeyed building in the busy residential area of Sanath Nagar in the city.

At least four people on the ground were injured in the accident, and they were rushed to hospital, sources said.

The mishap occurred as thousands of people present, including Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel and other dignitaries were watching the display. Thousands more saw the tragedy happen on their television screen.

According to Navy sources, the Sagar Pawan team has tremendous experience and has participated in scores of such shows.

Smoke billowing from the building into which the Naval trainer aircraft crashed in Hyderabad on March 3, 2010.

The pilot of the ill-fated aircraft appeared to have lost control as it was levelling off at the fag end of the display. The sources said the fact that the pilots were killed showed that they either did not have the time to react or they were trying to minimise the damage in the residential area.

NNN