Ahead of Aero India 2019, two Suryakiran aircraft crash in Bengaluru, One pilot killed

A pilot was killed and two others ejected to safety when two aircraft of IAF's aerobatic team Suryakiran crashed near the Yelahanka airbase in Bengaluru on Tuesday, a day before the opening of the Aero India show, a top police official said.

The mishap occurred during a sortie as part of the rehersal for the five-day Asia's premier Air show here.

"There were three pilots, one has died, two are safe with injuries," DGP Fire Services M N Reddi who rushed to the spot said.

A civilian was also injured in the mishap, police said.

"I'm aware of it (incident)," Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, but did not elaborate further when asked about the accident.

She said this on the sidelines of an event here.

It was not immediately clear whether the two aircraft collided before the crash.