Wednesday, a MiG-21 fighter jet of the Indian Air Force crashed, leaving the pilot with only minor injuries, the Indian Express newspaper and other Indian media reported.
At about 17:30 p.m. on Wednesday, a MiG-21 fighter jet training in the western region experienced a technical failure after takeoff and the pilot ejected safely, the Air Force said in a statement. India’s air force said it had ordered an investigation court to determine the cause of the crash.
The MiG-21 reportedly crashed in the Balmer district of Rajasthan state, igniting a thatched hut with no one, livestock or anything else inside.
It is reported that this is the fourth MiG-21 crash in India this year. In May, a MiG-21 crashed in Punjab, killing the pilot. In March, a MiG-21 crashed in Madhya Pradesh, killing the pilot. In January, a MiG-21 crashed in Rajasthan, and the pilot ejected to escape.
Currently, the Indian Air Force has about six MiG-21 fighter squadrons, each consisting of about 18 aircraft.
A K Antony, Then India’s defence chief, said in 2013 that 482 MiG-21s had been involved in accidents in the Indian Air Force since the introduction of Soviet aircraft in 1963, resulting in the deaths of 171 pilots.
It is worth mentioning that also on Wednesday, an Indian Air Force U.S.-made CH-47F “Snougan” heavy helicopter made an emergency landing in Bihar state after experiencing a technical failure while on patrol. At the time of the incident, there were 15 people on the helicopter, but no one was injured.
The emergency landing reportedly occurred at around 5:25 p.m. that day, and the accident did not cause major damage to the helicopter.
