Two navy personnel onboard a naval power glider died on Sunday after it crashed in Kochi, news agency PTI reported quoting a Defence spokesperson. 

One officer, Lt Rajeev Jha and Petty officer Sunil Kumar were rescued from the crash site and shifted to INHS Sanjivani, where they were declared brought dead, the spokesperson said.

He added that the glider, which took off from INS Garuda, was on a routine training sortie and crashed near Thoppumpady bridge in Kochi close to the naval base at around 7 am.

The process of recovering the glider from the crash site has started. The  Southern Naval Command has also ordered a board of inquiry to probe into the incident.

More details are awaited…