IAF’s MiG-21 jet crashes in Rajasthan, 3 civilians killed: A look at similar such incidents in last five years

Here is a look at the similar such incidents over the last five years involving the MiG-21 aircraft often dubbed as the 'flying coffin'

By: Express Web Desk

Mumbai | May 8, 2023 05:10 PM IST

2 min read

Locals gather after an MiG-21 fighter aircraft crashed in Hanumangarh district. (PTI)

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Three civilians were killed as the Indian Air Force’s MiG-21 aircraft crashed near Rajasthan’s Suratgarh during a routine training sortie on Monday. The pilot ejected safely. Hanumangarh SP Sudheer Choudhary said the aircraft crashed in the district’s Bahlolnagar village.

In the last 60 years, MiG-21 crashes have killed over 170 pilots, according to data from the Ministry of Defence.

Here are similar incidents over the last five years involving the MiG-21 aircraft often dubbed as the ‘flying coffin’:

July 28, 2022: A MiG-21 Bison aircraft crashed in Barmer, Rajasthan, killing the two pilots aboard the fighter aircraft.

December 24, 2021: Wing Commander Harshit Sinha was killed when a MiG-21 plane crashed in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer during a training sortie. The plane had crashed in the Desert National Park area under the Sam police station.

August 25, 2021: A MiG-21 Bison aircraft crashed in Barmer owing to a malfunction that occurred soon after take-off, with the pilot ejecting safely.

May 20, 2021: Squadron leader Abhinav Choudhary was killed when his MiG-21 Bison crashed after taking off from the Suratgarh airbase in Rajasthan. The aircraft was on a training sortie from Suratgarh in Rajasthan when it crashed in Langeana village in Punjab’s Moga.

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March 17, 2021: Group Captain Ashish Gupta was killed when his MiG-21 crashed after taking off from the Gwalior airbase. The officer was on a combat training mission, which ended in an emergency as he couldn’t eject from the aircraft on time.

March 8, 2019: An Indian Air Force MiG aircraft crashed in Rajasthan’s Bikaner district. Bikaner SP Pradeep Mohan Sharma said the pilot ejected safely before the MiG-21 aircraft, which was on a routine mission, crashed in Shoba Sar ki Dhani area.

February 12, 2019: A MiG 27 aircraft crashed near Pokhran range in Rajasthan. However, the pilot had ejected safely before the fighter aircraft hit the ground.

July 18, 2018: A MIG-21 aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed near Patta Jatian village in Jawali area of Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh, killing the lone pilot. The pilot, identified as Squadron Leader Meet Kumar, had got airborne from Pathankot air base.

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