<p>However, there was no casualty as the pilot managed to eject safely. The plane was on routine sortie when it crashed near the airfield.<br /><br />The reason behind the crash is not known but a team of the Indian Air force (IAF) reached the crash site and is investigating the matter.<br /><br />This is the second MiG crash in a span of two months in Rajasthan. A MiG aircraft had crashed in Rajasthan Naal airstrip in Bikaneer killing pilot M S Pillai on August 2. <br /><br />According to officials, the plane was on a routine sortie and the incident occurred around 11:30 am when the pilot was preparing to land. The pilot, flying officer Amit Sethi, ejected safely, Defence PRO at Jodhpur S D Goswami said.<br /><br />A court of inquiry has been ordered, he said. This is the sixth air crash involving IAF’s fighter aircraft this year and the fifth belonging to the MiG-21 series warplane. In view of the increasing number of accidents involving the MiG-21 aircraft type, the IAF has decided to phase them out by 2017.<br /><br />The force is also planning to allow only experienced fighter pilots to fly the plane from next year. Of the total 976 MiG-21s inducted in the service since 1960s, over half of them have been lost in air crashes.</p>
<p>However, there was no casualty as the pilot managed to eject safely. The plane was on routine sortie when it crashed near the airfield.<br /><br />The reason behind the crash is not known but a team of the Indian Air force (IAF) reached the crash site and is investigating the matter.<br /><br />This is the second MiG crash in a span of two months in Rajasthan. A MiG aircraft had crashed in Rajasthan Naal airstrip in Bikaneer killing pilot M S Pillai on August 2. <br /><br />According to officials, the plane was on a routine sortie and the incident occurred around 11:30 am when the pilot was preparing to land. The pilot, flying officer Amit Sethi, ejected safely, Defence PRO at Jodhpur S D Goswami said.<br /><br />A court of inquiry has been ordered, he said. This is the sixth air crash involving IAF’s fighter aircraft this year and the fifth belonging to the MiG-21 series warplane. In view of the increasing number of accidents involving the MiG-21 aircraft type, the IAF has decided to phase them out by 2017.<br /><br />The force is also planning to allow only experienced fighter pilots to fly the plane from next year. Of the total 976 MiG-21s inducted in the service since 1960s, over half of them have been lost in air crashes.</p>
