NEW DELHI: An Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot was killed after a MiG-21 Bison aircraft crashed on Wednesday while taking off in central India.
The accident took place when the aircraft was taking off for a combat training mission at an airbase in central India. The Indian air force said Group Captain A Gupta was killed in the accident. A Court of Inquiry has been ordered to determine the cause of the accident.
“The IAF lost Group Captain A Gupta in the tragic accident. IAF expresses deep condolences and stands firmly with the family members. A Court of Inquiry has been ordered to determine the cause of the accident,” the air force said in a tweet.
The IAF lost Group Captain A Gupta in the tragic accident. IAF expresses deep condolences and stands firmly with the family members. A Court of Inquiry has been ordered to determine the cause of the accident.
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) March 17, 2021
The incident comes two months after a MiG-21 fighter jet of the IAF crashed near Suratgarh in Rajasthan during a training sortie due to a technical malfunction. The pilot managed to eject safely.
The Indian Air Force has lost 27 aircraft, including 15 fighter jets and helicopters in crashes since 2016, Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik had said in Parliament in 2019.
In the 2016-17 fiscal, six IAF fighter jets, two helicopters, one transport aircraft and one trainer crashed. In 2017-18, the air force lost two fighter jets and one trainer aircraft in crashes.
The number rose sharply in 2018-19 with the IAF losing seven fighter jets, two helicopters and two trainers.
