Madhya Pradesh: MiG 21 Trainer Aircraft Of Indian Air Force Crashes In Gwalior, Pilots Eject Safely

Both the pilots, including a Group Captain and a squadron leader, managed to eject safely.

A MiG-21 trainer aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed near the Gwalior airbase in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday. (ANI)

New Delhi: A MiG-21 trainer aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed near the Gwalior airbase in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday. The sources said, the aircraft was on a routine mission and that crashed around 10 am today. Both the pilots, including a Group Captain and a squadron leader, managed to eject safely. Meanwhile, the IAF has ordered a court of inquiry to ascertain the cause of the accident.

JUST IN | #MiG21 Trainer aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed in #MadhyaPradesh today. Both the pilots, including a Group Captain and a squadron leader, managed to eject safely.https://t.co/DklVA2kRqn pic.twitter.com/Sbmr3dhG6x

— ABP News (@ABPNews) September 25, 2019

The MiG-21 jets were inducted into IAF over four decades back and many of these planes were lost in crashes. Currently the IAF has only one squadron (18 aircraft) of the variant which the force is planning to retire in the next one-and-half to two years. The IAF has been grappling with rising incidents of accidents involving its flying platforms. Watch | MP: MiG 21 trainer aircraft crashes, no casualty reported Earlier this year, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said as many as 33 Indian Air Force aircraft, including 19 fighter jets, met with accidents since 2015-16. Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik had said in June 2019 told that the Indian Air Force lost 27 aircraft, including 15 fighter jets and helicopters, in crashes since 2016. The figure included the downed MiG-21 of Commander Abhinandan Varthaman during a dog-fight with Pakistan Air Force planes on February 27.