An Indian Air Force MiG-21 fighter aircraft has crashed in Barmer are of Rajasthan. The pilot and the co-pilot managed to eject safely.
The aircraft was airborne from Uttarlai airbase near Barmer. No damage to civil or service property have been reported so far. A court of inquiry has been ordered to look into the circumstances leading to the crash.
Last year, another MiG-21 had crashed in the fields of Soibugh, Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir.
More than 170 Indian Air Force pilots have been killed in MIG-21 accidents since 1970, when the aircraft were commissioned.
All the aircraft crashes suffered by the Indian Air Force (IAF) since 2012, half involved MiG fighters, according to data compiled by the defence ministry.
Since April 2012, there have been 25 accidents – of which 13 involved a MiG fighter aircraft, which has often been described as a “Flying Coffin”.
Two of those accidents involved MiG-29 aircrafts that are relatively new and have a long life ahead for them.
MiG-21s and MiG-27s are, on the other hand, moving towards retirement with the IAF looking at decommissioning a few squadrons this year itself.
The MiG-21s are scheduled to retire over the period 2017 to 2020. The non-upgraded versions of MiG-27s are scheduled to retire this year and others by the next year.
According to the data that the defence ministry provided to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on defence, there were 65 accidents involving IAF aircrafts between April 2007 and March 2012.
The aircraft was airborne from Uttarlai airbase near Barmer. No damage to civil or service property have been reported so far. A court of inquiry has been ordered to look into the circumstances leading to the crash.
Last year, another MiG-21 had crashed in the fields of Soibugh, Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir.
More than 170 Indian Air Force pilots have been killed in MIG-21 accidents since 1970, when the aircraft were commissioned.
All the aircraft crashes suffered by the Indian Air Force (IAF) since 2012, half involved MiG fighters, according to data compiled by the defence ministry.
Since April 2012, there have been 25 accidents – of which 13 involved a MiG fighter aircraft, which has often been described as a “Flying Coffin”.
Two of those accidents involved MiG-29 aircrafts that are relatively new and have a long life ahead for them.
MiG-21s and MiG-27s are, on the other hand, moving towards retirement with the IAF looking at decommissioning a few squadrons this year itself.
The MiG-21s are scheduled to retire over the period 2017 to 2020. The non-upgraded versions of MiG-27s are scheduled to retire this year and others by the next year.
According to the data that the defence ministry provided to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on defence, there were 65 accidents involving IAF aircrafts between April 2007 and March 2012.