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The aircraft has a poor safety record and is expected to be withdrawn from service within the next decade by which time it will be replaced with more modern types.
IAS Officer Tina Dabi Raids Rajasthan Spa Centre On Sex Racket Suspicion Spanish F-18 Fighter Jet Crashes While Flying Low, Pilot Dies Viral: Woman Sarpanch's Speech In Fluent English Before Bureaucrat Tina Dabi Amazon Employee Greets Friend At Wedding, Dies Of Cardiac Arrest "Speculative, Inaccurate": Canada Factchecks Own Media Over India Charge Canada Rolls Back Extra Screening For Fliers To India Karnataka's Golden Chariot Train Will Return Next Month: What To Expect Joe Rogan Mocks 'The View' Co-Host Who Accuses Him Of Believing In Dragons Letter Vs Letter As BJP, Congress Clash Over Manipur Crisis Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.