Saturday, May 20, 2023

IAF Temporarily Halts Operations of MiG-21 Fighter Jets Amid Probe into May 8 Rajasthan Crash

Two weeks after three people died in the Indian Air Force MiG-21 fighter aircraft’s Rajasthan crash, the IAF has decided not to resume their operations till the time they are completely checked and cleared.

Sources told CNN-News18 that the Indian Air Force is carrying out checks on the ageing Soviet-origin MiG-21 planes, and therefore have halted their operations for the time being.

“Once the checks are completed, the operation will be resumed," sources said.

The MiG-21planes have been involved in over 400 accidents since they were inducted in the forces.

In 2012, former Defence Minister AK Antony had said in Parliament that more than half of the 872 MiG aircraft purchased from Russia had crashed, in which, more than 200 persons, including 171 pilots, 39 civilians and eight other services’ people had lost their lives.

The air force has three squadrons of MiG-21 Bison which are set to be phased out by 2025.

20/05/2023  Akash Sharma/News18

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