Both pilots killed as IAF Mig-21 crashes near Rajasthan's Barmer

New Delhi, July 29: In a tragic incident on Thursday, two pilots were killed when the MiG-21 jet of the Indian Air Force crashed during a training sortie in Rajasthan's Barmer.

"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 statement issued by Air Force said.

"IAF deeply regrets the loss of lives and stands firmly with the bereaved families," it added.

The IAF further informed that a court of inquiry has been ordered to investigate the cause of the accident.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari following the crash and also expressed grief over the deaths of pilots.

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"Deeply anguished by the loss of two Air Warriors due to an accident of IAF's Mig-21 trainer aircraft near Barmer in Rajasthan," the Defence Minister said on Twitter.

"Their service to the nation will never be forgotten. My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this hour of sadness," he added.

The MiG-21 is a single-engine multirole fighter/ground attack aircraft from the Soviet era that was formerly the backbone of the IAF fleet.

The aircraft has a poor safety record and is anticipated to be retired within the next decade, when it will be replaced by more modern models.

In 1963, the IAF received its first single-engine MiG-21, and it gradually inducted 874 variants of the Soviet-origin supersonic fighters to increase its combat capability. However, during the last six decades, more than 400 MiG-21s have been engaged in accidents that have cost the lives of around 200 pilots.

According to experts, more MiG-21s have crashed than any other fighter because they comprised the majority of the fighter aircraft in the IAF's inventory for a long time.

Because of the delay in the induction of new fighters, the IAF had to maintain its MiG-21 fleet flying for longer than it would have intended.

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-PTC News