Bengaluru: Two pilots were killed after their Mirage fighter aircraft crashed during takeoff at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) airport in Bengaluru on Friday. The incident happened near Yamalur, off Old Airport Road, when the Mirage 2000 trainer fighter aircraft of HAL, flown by two pilots, crashed.

Fighter Plane crashes near HAL airport, #Bengaluru; pilot dead. pic.twitter.com/R8pC2FPsNR

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The aircraft was being flown by two test pilots of the Indian Air Force. Squadron Leader Negi and Squadron Leader Abrol were taking the plane for an acceptance test flight after it had been upgraded by the HAL. A rescue operation was launched by the authorities. One of the two pilots died after managing to eject from the plane but he fell on the debris itself. The other pilot was rushed to hospital but succumbed to his injuries, senior IAF sources told ANI.