A twin-seater Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed today near Shivpuri in Madhya Pradesh during a routine training flight. Both pilots managed to eject safely, according to officials.

The IAF has ordered a court of inquiry to determine the cause of the crash.

In a statement on X, the IAF confirmed that the Mirage 2000 aircraft encountered a system malfunction before crashing near Shivpuri (Gwalior). An investigation has been launched to understand the details of the incident. The Mirage 2000, a multirole fighter jet manufactured by Dassault Aviation of France, first flew in 1978 and has been in service with several air forces around the world since 1984.

Out of the 600 Mirage 2000 jets produced, half were exported to countries, including India. The IAF’s Mirage 2000 fleet notably played a significant role during the Kargil war, where it delivered precise laser-guided bombs on terrorist and Pakistani positions. It was also part of the Balakot airstrike in February 2019, targeting a terrorist camp deep inside Pakistan.