An Indian Air Force (IAF) trainer aircraft, part of the ageing Kiran fleet, exploded “midair”, broke into four pieces and crashed into a lake at Iyancherry village in Urapakkam, 25 km from Chennai, Tuesday morning. The two instructors on the twin-seater — Squadron Leader C.G. Deepak and Wing Commander K.P. Singh — detected an engine snag and ejected just in time to escape with minor injuries. Mr Singh suffered a spine injury after his parachute reportedly hit an electricity post and got entangled in overhead cables, eyewitnesses said.