Rajasthan: 3 civilians killed in Indian Air Force MiG-21 crash, pilot ejects

The wreckage of an Indian Air Force MiG-21 aircraft fell on a house in Rajasthan’s Hanumangarh district on Monday morning, killing three civilians, the IAF said today. The plane took off from the Suratgarh airbase for a routine exercise when it crashed near Bahlol Nagar in Rajasthan’s Hanumangarh district due to a “onboard emergency.” The mishap occurred around 9.25 a.m.

“Soon after the take-off, the pilot experienced an onboard emergency, following which he attempted to recover the aircraft as per existing procedures. Having failed to do so, he initiated an ejection, sustaining minor injuries in the process. The pilot was recovered from about 25 kilometres North East of Suratgarh’s base,” IAF said in the statement.

“The aircraft wreckage fell on a house in Bahlol Nagar in Hanumangarh District, unfortunately leading to the loss of three lives. The IAF regrets the loss of lives and offers its deepest condolences to the bereaved families,” it added.

The Indian Air Force has convened an inquiry to determine the cause of the crash. The MiG-21 fleet is on its last legs, with all three remaining aircraft set to be poached out by 2025.

One pilot was killed earlier this month when two IAF fighter jets, a Sukhoi-30 and a Mirage 2000, collided during a training exercise. One plane crashed in Morena, Madhya Pradesh, and the other in Bharatpur, Rajasthan.

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