Two pilots killed in Mig-21 aircraft accident near Barmer in Rajasthan

Two Indian Air Force pilots were killed in Rajasthan on Thursday when the MiG-22 fighter jet they were flying crashed near Barmer.

"A twin seater Mig-21 trainer aircraft of the IAF was airborne for a training sortie from Utarlai air base in Rajasthan this evening. Around 9:10 pm, the aircraft met with an accident near Barmer. Both pilots sustained fatal injuries," the IAF said in a brief statement.

A court of Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident.

"IAF deeply regrets the loss of lives and stands firmly with the bereaved families," said the IAF.

Nearly 200 IAF pilots lost their lives in MiG-21 accidents with the aircraft acquiring the sobriquet of "flying coffins". India has phased out most of its MiG-21 jets, but a few squadrons of an upgraded version of the combat jets arr still being flown by the IAF.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari following the crash.

In a tweet, Singh expressed his anguish over the death of the two pilots.

"Deeply anguished by the loss of two Air Warriors due to an accident of IAF's Mig-21 trainer aircraft near Barmer in Rajasthan," Singh said.

"Their service to the nation will never be forgotten. My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this hour of sadness," he said.

The IAF has not yet put out the names of the two pilots.

The accident once again put the spotlight on the IAF's ageing fleet of Soviet-origin Mig-21 aircraft which were involved in around 200 accidents since their first induction in the early 1960s.

In March, Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhat said in the Rajya Sabha that 42 defence personnel were killed in accidents involving aircraft and helicopters of the three services in the last five years. The total number of air accidents in the last five years was 45 out of which 29 involved IAF's platforms.