Why MiG-21 Is Called 'Flying Coffin'

A MiG-21 aircraft of IAF crashed in Rajasthan on Monday, leaving three women dead.

First inducted in 1963, the Russian MiG-21s are India’s longest serving fighter jets.

Over 400 MiG-21 aircraft crashed in the last 60 years and killed over 200 individuals.

These fighter jets have been dubbed as the ‘Flying Coffin’ and ‘Widow Maker.’

The MiG-21s used to be the mainstay of the IAF for a long period of time.

At present, IAF has three MiG-21 squadrons with around 50 aircraft.

Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau (OKB) of the erstwhile Soviet Union designed MiG-21.

The IAF has finalised a timeline of 3 years to phase out remaining Mig-21 squadrons.

In 2019, a MiG-21 Bison flown by then Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman shot down a F-16 jet of Pak.

Last year, the govt said 42 defence personnel were killed in aircraft accidents in last 5 years.