NEW DELHI: A MiG-21 fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed in Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan on Monday, claiming the lives of at least two civilians on the ground.
The incident occurred near the Dabli area of Hanumangarh, according to Additional Superintendent of Police, Jassaram Bose. The pilot of the plane is safe, confirmed District Collector Rukmani Riar.
The crash highlights the poor crash record of the MiG-21 fighter jet, which has been a part of the Indian Air Force for over 60 years. Over 400 MiG-21 aircraft have crashed in this period, resulting in the death of over 200 pilots and 60 civilians. The aircraft has earned the nickname ‘Flying Coffin’ due to its high rate of accidents.
Despite completing its retirement period in the mid-1990s, the MiG-21 is still in use by the Indian Air Force. The absence of any new fighter jets in the Indian Air Force for a long time is believed to be one of the reasons for the accidents. More than 20 aircraft have crashed since 2010, and 38 aircraft crashed between 2003 and 2013 in a period of ten years.
Over the past 30 years, at least 152 Indian Air Force pilots and 534 aircraft have been lost to accidents and crashes. The incident in Hanumangarh district is the latest in a string of crashes involving the ageing MiG-21 fighter jet, highlighting the urgent need for modernization and upgradation of the Indian Air Force’s fleet.
