This Article is From Jul 29, 2022

2 Pilots Killed In Air Force's MiG-21 Jet Crash In Rajasthan's Barmer

A court of Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident.

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India News Reported by , Edited by
New Delhi:

Two pilots were killed on Thursday evening when an Indian Air Force MiG-21 jet crashed during a training sortie in Rajasthan's Barmer.

Visuals from the crash site showed the wreckage in flames, scattered in the area.

"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 Air Force said in a statement.

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

A court of inquiry has been ordered to investigate the cause of the accident, it said.

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari following the crash.

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

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

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

The aircraft has a poor safety record and is expected to be withdrawn from service within the next decade by which time it will be replaced with more modern types.

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