Trainer aircraft crashes in Andhra Pradesh, two killed

A trainer aircraft of the IAF today crashed in Andhra Pradesh's Medak district, killing two instructors.

The mishap occurred at about 9.45 am when the HPT-32 trainer aircraft belonging to Air Force Academy Dundigal (located on the city's outskirts) crashed in an open ground at Annaram village of Jinnaram Mandal near the academy, a senior police officer said.

"The trainer plane took off from the Dundigal academy at 9 am and as per preliminary reports it crashed while landing at the academy at about 9.45 am," Medak District Superintendent of Police M Kanta Rao said over the phone.

Two instructors -- Ritin Jain and another pilot identified only as Chaturvedi were killed on the spot, the police officer said adding "the exact cause of the crash was not known yet."

Senior Air Force officials rushed to the spot and were carrying out further investigations, he said.