Two Indian pilots were killed during an aerobatic display on Wednesday when they lost control of their plane and crashed into a residential home. The plane had gone into a plunging dive fifteen minutes into the display but could not regain height. Its pilots were unable to eject and their aircraft smashed into the upper floor of a house close to Hyderabad's Begumpet Airport. Four people were injured.
Television footage of the tragedy showed the aircraft spinning as it dived along with several other aircraft, and attempting to pull out of the plunge before disappearing into a housing area behind the airport. A cloud of black smoke mushroomed above the house.
The display was intended to showcase India's aviation hardware and talent at an international industry summit, but instead government officials grounded its fleet of Kiran Mark II demonstration planes and launched an immediate inquiry into the accident. The plane was built by the government-owned Hindustan Aeronatics Limited.
Admiral Nirmal Verma, the Indian Navy chief, said: "The aircraft went out of control. But the cause of the crash was not immediately known." A.K. Khan, the local police commissioner, said the plane had crashed into a water tank on top of a house and seriously damaged its upper floor.
Praful Patel, Indian Aviation Minister, called the incident unfortunate but said that the tragedy should not affect the event.
"It is unfortunate that such an incident happened. It is premature to say what caused the crash ... we have ordered an inquiry.... But I don't think this will any affect on the show," he said.
Commander P V Satish, an Indian Navy spokesman, confirmed that its Kiran aircraft have been grounded following the tragedy at the Hyderabad air show. "Only after investigations are completed can we say what caused the crash," he said.
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R.I.P. to the deceased.
While the cause is not known, but not good news for Indian aviation and its notorious reputation.