Terming the crash of a naval aircraft here during an international civil aviation exhibition as "unfortunate", Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel Wednesday said the tragedy will not affect the event in any way.
"These kinds of mishaps have happened during such events in the past the
world over. It is very unfortunate but I don't think this (aircraft crash) will any way hamper or effect the event," the minister told IANS.
According to a civil aviation ministry official, there were five such crashes during air shows in the world last year. Similarly there were four such crashes during air shows in 2008 and seven in 2007.
An Indian Navy trainer aircraft crashed into a two-storied building in a congested locality during an air show here Wednesday, killing the pilot and his co-pilot who found no time to eject.
Commander S.K. Maurya and Lt Commander Rahul Nair were killed when the HJT-16 Kiran Mk2 trainer, built by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, crashed in Bowenpally locality near the old Begumpet Airport in the city.