On Monday morning, a MiG-21 crashed in Hanumangarh, Rajasthan, killing two civilians after taking off from Suratgarh. The pilot, however, ejected and escaped the crash uninjured. The crash took place during a training sortie.
The two who passed are women residing in the Bahlolnagar district of Hanumangarh. Apart from them, one male civilian is also said to be injured. A rescue operation is said to have begun.
It was just around a year ago when we got the news of a MiG-21 erupting into flames in Rajasthan, and now, this. The previous crash happened in Barmer, Rajasthan, killing both pilots.
India received its first set of MiG-21s in March 1963. Since then, the IAF has had 874 units, out of which only 50 continue to be in service. Of all 874 units, 490 have crashed or been involved in accidents, killing 170 pilots, and giving rise to its nickname, ‘The Flying Coffin’.
After the first few MiG-21s entered the , four new variants came in throughout the years. In 1965, the IAF saw the first variant, the MiG-21PF (Type 76).
Later, in 1970 the first MiG-21FL (Type 77) was produced by HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited). These jets were ready to take on Pakistan in the 1971 India-Pakistan War.
After Type 77 was introduced, the IAF found itself with another variant, the MiG-21M/MFs, or Type 96. The final model, which is still in use today, is the MiG-21 Bison.
The last MiG-21 Bison was produced 38 years ago, in 1985. The IAF currently have around 50 of these fighter jets in its fleet still ready for action.
The MiG-21 Bison was an aircraft that supported laser-guided weapons which made long-distance striking easier to do. It was a major improvement among the IAF’s jets at that time.
The first MiGs were designed to be point-defence fighters and for air-to-air combat within the visual range. This was due to the fact that the aircraft wasn’t compatible with laser-guided weapons. Instead, it used short-distance, air-to-air missiles.
Although a capable fighter jet in the IAFs squadron, the MiG-21 has been the cause of a lot of accidents and deaths of its own people. Being almost a 40-year-old jet, the frame and body, over time would have deteriorated and weakened. All this results in a plane that is not up to par and unable to do what it once could.
That being said, it should also be given the respect it deserves as it played a massive role in assisting our troops with keeping the country safe. The MiG-21 will go down in history as an icon of the Indian Air Force.
