Two pilots died in a jet crash while training in Rajasthan on Thursday. IAF ordered an inquiry about the incident. Defence Minister and IAF shared their sympathies.Â
Two pilots got killed in an aircraft training on Thursday evening when their twin-seater MiG-21 crashed in Rajasthan’s Barmer.
According to the Indian Air Force (IAF), the aircraft took off from the Uttarlai airbase and crashed near Bhimda village. The incident occurred at night on Thursday around 9:10 P.M. during a training sortie. The trainer aircraft met with an accident near Barmer and burst into flames. Both pilots suffered critical injuries. Wing Commander M Rana and Flight Lieutenant Advitiya Bal are the two pilots who lost their lives in this fatal crash on 28 July as reported by the IAF on 29th.
Images of the scene were quite frightening as the flames were all spreading out from the fighter’s wreckage across a wide region.
What IAF and Defence Minister has to say about the crash
The Indian Air Force has further ordered the court to inquire the reasons behind this crash. The Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also spoke to the IAF Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari to further investigate the incident.
Furthermore, the IAF issued a statement about reporting the incident and as well as their condolences, “IAF deeply regrets the loss of lives and stands firmly with the bereaved families.”
It must also be noted that at least six MiG-21s have crashed since the last year January. The crashes have killed five pilots. We have lost at least 44 military personnel in the last five years because of the accidents.
The MiG -21s were to be retired a long time back but due to the delays in the commencement of new fighter jets the IAF is still using and operating these MiG – 21 squadrons. They have currently four such squadrons of MiG – 21 wherein each has 16 to 18 jets approximately.
However, according to the IAF, they are going to retire another squadron of the MiG-21 Bison aircraft by the 30th of September.
