The plane is suspected to have suffered a technical malfunction, leading to the crash.
A Mirage 2000 trainer plane from the Indian Air Force crashed in Madhya Pradesh’s Shivpuri area. The incident occurred during a routine training sortie on Thursday. Both pilots safely ejected before the crash, and no casualties have been reported.
According to preliminary reports, the plane is suspected to have suffered a technical malfunction, leading to the crash. A Court of Inquiry has been ordered to find out the exact cause of the incident.
The Mirage 2000 is a multi-role fighter plane. It has been a crucial part of the Indian Air Force. This plane has played a significant role in various operations. These include the Balakot airstrikes in 2019. The Indian Air Force is modernizing its fleet. Nonetheless, there are ongoing concerns about the safety of aging fighter jets and trainer planes.
Authorities have secured the crash site, and further investigation is underway.
Rising Concerns Over Plane Safety in the Indian Air Force
The Standing Committee on Defence has recently released a report. It raised concerns about the increasing number of plane accidents in the Indian Air Force. The report revealed that the Indian Air Force recorded 34 plane accidents during the 13th Defence Plan period (2017–2022).
The report highlighted that in 2017–18, the the Indian Air Force recorded 8 plane accidents. This was followed by 11 accidents in 2018–19. This marked the highest number in this period. In 2019–20 and 2020–21, the number of accidents dropped to 3 each year. Yet, the trend reversed in 2021–22 with 9 reported crashes. The surge in accidents in 2018–19 and 2021–22 raised concerns. This was especially true after multiple high-profile incidents. These incidents included a Mi-17V5 helicopter crash in December 2021. This crash claimed the life of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat.
The report further categorized the causes of these 34 plane accidents. It stated that 19 incidents resulted from human error by aircrew. It also mentioned that 9 accidents occurred due to technical defects. The remaining cases were linked to other causes, like bird strikes, foreign object damage, and unexpected weather changes.
The report cited a significant incident. It was the Mi-17V5 crash that killed General Bipin Rawat and 12 others. The investigation concluded that an unexpected change in weather caused the accident. This change led to the pilot’s spatial disorientation. As a result, there was a Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT).
With incidents like the Mirage 2000 crash in Shivpuri, there is growing concern over IAF’s fleet modernization. As the Air Force continues to upgrade its capabilities, ensuring aviation safety remains a critical priority.
