Flight Lt Advitiya Bal and Wing Commander M Rana crashed during a training sortie in Barmer.
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.
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.
"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.
Koo AppSalute to 2 brave IAF pilots who lost their lives in a tragic Mig-21 trainer crash yesterday near Barmer. They were on a routine night mission. While Wg Cdr M Rana was commissioned in Dec 05 and was the Flight Commander of the Squadron, young Flt Lt Advitiya Bal was a budding fighter pilot commissioned in June 2018.- Spokesperson Ministry of Defence (@SpokespersonMoD) 29 July 2022
The aircraft has a poor safety record and is expected to be withdrawn from service within the next decade by which time it will be replaced with more modern types.
