3 killed in light aircraft crash near Bidadi

Saras, a test aircraft of National Aerospace Laboraties (NAL), crashed near Bidadi today at 3.45 pm.u00a0 Three persons who were on the light airdraft, which took off from Hindutan Aeronautical Limited (HAL) airport at 3.30 pm, were killed on the spot.
The deceased are pilot wing commanders Praveen and Shah, and squadron leader Ilayaraj. The bodies are reportedly charred beyond recognition.
u00a0According to an eye witnesses, people around the spot, where the incident took place, heard a loud sound and saw the air craft coming down. It fell on a vacant plot and burst into flames. The pieces of the charred aircraft were strewn around the area.
The army, police and the fire brigade are at the spot with a rescue chopper from the HAL.
Saras is the first Indian multi-purpose civillian air craft in the Light Transport Aircraft category designed by the National Aerospace Laboratory (NAL). It has a capacity to carry two pilots and 14 passengers.
Saras is a twin turboprop powered multi-role aircraft. It is designed to take-off and land on short semi-prepared runways. Saras is capable of flying upto a maximum speed of 550 Km/ hour at a cruise altitude of 7.5 km.
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