Shortly after two Indian Air Force (IAF) jets collided mid-air while rehearsing on Tuesday for Aero India 2019, spectators present in the stands initially thought the pilots were performing a new manoeuvre after having displayed the “mirror pass” — a move made popular by the famous movie Top Gun.
Two Hawk advanced jet trainers of the nine-aircraft Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team crashed into each other near the Yelahanka airbase in Bengaluru while practising for the air show that begins Wednesday. While two IAF pilots managed to eject from the aircraft and were said to be safe, Wing Commander Sahil Gandhi was killed in the incident that comes weeks after a crash at the HAL airport killed both pilots.
