Another MiG-21 crash: India’s fleet, past accidents, and future phase-out

A MiG-21 Bison aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed in Barmer, Rajasthan, on Thursday night (July 28),

Killing the two pilots aboard the trainer version of the fighter aircraft.

[{"selector":"#anim-2f867352-5659-4055-8895-32216b7b3961 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(39.39312420593195%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

A look at India’s MiG-21 Bison fleet, the vintage of these aircraft, and the future of their service.

[{"selector":"#anim-4c3a874b-020d-42d4-b467-e64f35264213 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(17.72000508788975%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

As per information released by the IAF, this was a trainer version of the fighter aircraft with two pilots on board.

[{"selector":"#anim-7cbdfb97-783d-4e21-81b4-33b1d766efe3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(18.856216854059145%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

As is the norm for training missions, there was one senior pilot, Wing Commander M Rana, on board along with a junior pilot, Flight Lieutenant Adivitya Bal.

[{"selector":"#anim-bc68f1cb-2b3b-4224-92cc-e8abb1698c57 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(8.763440174719754%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

The typical mission in such sorties is to impart operational training to the junior pilots and also to test their skills.

[{"selector":"#anim-8b119d5b-f5bb-4012-b97c-b70d8c7bab3a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(30.393798714328497%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

The reasons behind the crash are still not known and a Court of Inquiry will look into it.

[{"selector":"#anim-baed58c8-520e-48d0-9b20-bc2408108e71 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(20.106097084450237%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

In the past, Technical Defects, Human Error (Aircrew) and bird hits have been causes of some of the fighter aircraft accidents in IAF.

[{"selector":"#anim-a8666574-b3b0-4435-97b7-0d8068cac847 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(32.56569098569464%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]