At least two civilian casualties were reported after a MiG-21 jet of the Indian Air Force crashed in Rajasthan’s Hanumangarh, PTI reported quoted police officials. The pilot of the aircraft is safe.
The MiG-21 aircraft, with all its versions, has recorded the highest number of crashes in the IAF. About 490 jets involved in accidents or crashes while 50 MiG-21s continue to be in service.
More than 20 aircraft have crashed since 2010 and 38 aircraft crashed between 2003 and 2013 in a period of ten years.
The high rate of accidents earned the aircraft the nickname of ‘Flying Coffin’.
While it’s more than 60 years old, the MiG-21 is still in service with the Indian Air Force with four active squadrons and has been updated to match generation 3 fighter jets.
The jets are currently being used only as Interceptors with a limited role as fighter jets and are mostly used for training exercises.
