IAF MIG 21 crash kills three in Rajasthan, pilot safe
The Community News/New Delhi
Indian Air Force’s MIG 21 on Monday crashed on a house in Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan, leaving three dead, however, the pilot escaped with minor injuries.
As per Indian government spokesperson, the MIG 21 aircraft was on a routine training sorties from IAF’s Suratgarh station when it developed a technical snag.
The pilot tried to recover the supersonic jet fighter and aircraft interceptor but failed to do so as operational procedures.
This led to the pilot ejecting from the aircraft just in time before the crash and he suffered minor injuries but was recovered 25 km from the accident.
However, the fighter jet crashed on a house in Bahlol village in Rajasthan at 9.45 am that left three persons dead.
The IAF extended condolences to the the victims’ families and had ordered an court of inquiry to ascertain the cause the led to its crash.
“A MiG-21 fighter aircraft airborne for routine operational training sortie from AF Stn at Suratgarh crashed today.
The pilot recovered from about 25 kms North-East of Suratgarh base sustained minor injuries,” Indian Defence Ministry spokesperson A Bharat Bhushan Babu said in a tweet.
It is worth mentioning here that MIG 21, developed in collaboration with Russia, is the oldest fighter jet in IAF’s arsenal and it is used for training of beginner pilot.
Being the oldest jet, it suffers from various technical snags and the Indian government is planning to phase it out but still serious efforts needed for it.
