With several accidents involving its old Russian fighter fleet MiG-21 fighter jets, reports came in that the Indian Air Force is now going to retire another squadron of MiG-21 Bison aircraft by 30 September.
Earlier on Thursday evening, two pilots, including a young Flight Lieutenant A Bal and Wing Commander Rana, were killed when a MiG-21 Type 69 trainer aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed during a training flight in Rajasthan’s Barmer. Both pilots were killed.
“51 Squadron based out of Srinagar airport is being number plated on September 30. Thereafter, only three squadrons of aircraft will remain in service and will be phased out by the year 2025,” the news agency said. ANI Quoting IAF.
Now every year the number plate of each squadron of these aircraft will be installed. 51 Squadron is the one that thwarted Pakistan’s air strike on India on February 27, 2019 and took out an F-16 in an aircraft flown by Wing Commander (now Group Captain) Abhinandan Varthaman.
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In the last 20 months, 6 MiG-21 aircraft have been killed in accidents in which five pilots have lost their lives. Once the backbone of the IAF fleet, the MiG-21 is a Soviet-era single-engine multirole fighter/ground attack aircraft.
Wing Commander M Rana and Flight Lieutenant Aditiya Bal are the two pilots who lost their lives in a MiG-21 fighter plane crash in Barmer, the Indian Air Force said on July 29.
Condoling the demise of Wing Commander M Rana and Flight Lieutenant Aditiya Bal, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Air Chief Marshal VR Choudhary after the accident.
“Deeply saddened by the loss of two air warriors due to the crash of a MiG-21 trainer aircraft of the Indian Air Force near Barmer in Rajasthan,” Mr Singh said on Twitter.
“His service to the nation will never be forgotten. My condolences to the bereaved families in this hour of grief,” he said.
“A twin seater MiG-21 trainer aircraft of the Indian Air Force was taking off for training from Uttarlai airport in Rajasthan this evening. The plane crashed near Barmer at around 9:10 pm. Both the pilots sustained serious injuries. ” Air Force said in a statement.
“The Indian Air Force deeply regrets the loss of lives and stands firmly with the bereaved families,” the statement said.
With ANI inputs.
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