Pilot killed as MiG-21 crashes in Rajasthan

A MiG-21 Bison fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed today while landing at Uttarlai airbase in Rajasthan's Barmer district, killing the pilot. HT reports.

The soubriquet of ‘flying coffins’ came to haunt Indian Air Force’s MiG-21 yet again on Monday as another fighter plane crashed at Uttarlai forward airbase in Barmer district, killing its pilot, flight lieutenant Kulshreshtha.

HT Image

This is the third crash in Barmer in the recent past.

“One MiG-21 Bison aircraft of IAF crashed at Uttarlai airbase today at 9.30 am. The pilot sustained fatal injuries,” said a ministry of defence communiqué.

The aircraft had taken off from Uttarlai airbase this morning for a routine training sortie. It crashed while landing.

“A court of inquiry has been set up to ascertain the reason behind the accident,” said defence spokesperson, Colonel SD Goswami, adding that there is no reported damage to any civil life or property.