MiG-21 'Bison' crashes in Rajasthan's Barmer, both pilots killed
"A twin-seater MiG-21 trainer aircraft of the IAF was airborne for a training sortie from Utarlai air base in Rajasthan this evening. Around 9:10 pm, the aircraft met with an accident near Barmer. Both pilots sustained fatal injuries," the IAF said.
FollowA MiG-21 trainer aircraft crashed in Baytoo in Rajasthan's Barmer during a training sortie on Thursday night, killing both pilots on board. Â
The Indian Air Force confirmed the crash. In a statement, the IAF said: "A twin seater MiG-21 trainer aircraft of the IAF was airborne for a training sortie from Utarlai air base in Rajasthan this evening. Around 9:10 pm, the aircraft met with an accident near Barmer. Both pilots sustained fatal injuries."
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"IAF deeply regrets the loss of lives and stands firmly with the bereaved families. A court of Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident," the IAF statement added.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was briefed by Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari about the MiG-21 crash. Rajnath later mourned the demise of the pilots. He took to Twitter to say, "Deeply anguished by the loss of two Air Warriors due to an accident of IAF's Mig-21 trainer aircraft near Barmer in Rajasthan. Their service to the nation will never be forgotten. My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this hour of sadness."
The IAF currently operates four squadrons of the MiG-21 Bison from the 1960s. The MiG-21s, which have the highest take-off and landing speed at 340km, have been making headlines for the wrong reasons, with the supersonic fighters being involved in multiple crashes.
Last year alone, there were five MiG-21 crashes that claimed the lives of three pilots. From 1971-72, according to official statistics, over 400 of the 872 MiG-21s that were part of the IAF fleet were lost to accidents. The crash record earned the aircraft notoriety, and it started being termed as 'Flying Coffin' and the 'Widow Maker'. The last of these MiG-21s, over 60 per cent of which were licence-produced in India, is set to be phased out in about four years.Â
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