Two pilots were killed in a MiG-21 plane crash near Barmar, Rajasthan

Two pilots were killed in a MiG-21 plane crash near Barmer, Rajasthan

An Indian Air Force MiG-21 fighter jet crashed in Rajasthan's Barmer district on Thursday. Both the pilots of the MiG-21 training aircraft were reportedly killed in the accident. “The IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved families. A judicial inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident," the Indian Air Force said in a statement.

"An IAF aircraft crashed near Bhimda village in Pattu," Barmer District Collector Lok Bandu told PTI. Farmer Collector said he was on his way to the incident site.

Rajasthan | A MiG-21 fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed near Barmer district. Further details awaited pic.twitter.com/egJweDNL4a

— ANI (@ANI) July 28, 2022

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Chief of the Indian Air Force Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari about the MiG-21 fighter jet crash at Parmar. The IAF chief briefed him in detail about the incident.

"Deeply saddened by the loss of two airmen in the crash of an IAF Mig-21 training aircraft near Parmar in Rajasthan," Mr. Singh said on Twitter.

Deeply anguished by the loss of two Air Warriors due to an accident of IAF’s Mig-21 trainer aircraft near Barmer in Rajasthan. Their service to the nation will never be forgotten. My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this hour of sadness. https://t.co/avKi9YoMdo

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) July 28, 2022

The MiG-21 is a Soviet-era single-engine multirole fighter/ground attack aircraft that was once the backbone of the IAF fleet.

The IAF has 70 MiG 21 jets, which are of the 1960s design, but the ones being flown are 30-35 years old or older.

The aircraft has a poor safety record and is due to be decommissioned in the next ten years, to be replaced by current variants.