The crash has once again turned the spotlight on India’s longest-serving fighter plane, its safety record and the IAF’s plans to replace the ageing jets with newer ones in the coming years.
A MiG-21 Bison of the Indian Air Force crashed in Rajasthan on Friday evening, the fifth crash involving the Bison this year. Pilot Wing Commander Harshit Sinha died in the crash, the IAF confirmed. “With deep sorrow, IAF conveys the sad demise of Wing Commander Harshit Sinha in the flying accident this evening and stands firmly with the family of the brave heart,” the IAF tweeted.
“This evening, around 8:30 pm, a MiG-21 aircraft of IAF met with a flying accident in the western sector during a training sortie. Further details are awaited. An inquiry is being ordered,” the IAF earlier said in a statement, soon after the crash.
