The Indian Air Force (IAF) has temporarily suspended the operation of MiG-21 aircraft for checks to eliminate potential technical issues that may have contributed to a recent crash near Rajasthan’s Suratgarh, as informed by senior officials to The Indian Express.
The crash on May 8 happened during a routine training flight, resulting in minor injuries to the pilot who ejected, while the aircraft wreckage caused the unfortunate death of three civilians when it landed on a house.
An official stated to The Sunday Express that the MiG-21 aircraft are currently undergoing inspections before they can resume flights. The actual cause of the accident will be determined by the Court of Inquiry (CoI), but initial indications suggest a technical fault. Once the checks are completed, the MiG aircraft will be back in operation.
Currently, the IAF has three squadrons of MiG-21 Bison aircraft in service, with each squadron consisting of 16 to 18 aircraft, along with a couple of trainer versions.
In September 2022, the distinguished No 51 squadron was put on hold as the aircraft in it were being phased out. The plan is to phase out the three MiG-21 Bison squadrons by December 2025.
The IAF has an authorized squadron strength of 42, but currently operates around 30 squadrons.
Over the past 60 years, nearly 500 MiG-21s have crashed, resulting in the tragic loss of more than 170 pilots. The reasons for these crashes vary from technical malfunctions, human errors, bird strikes, to spatial disorientation of pilots in specific situations.
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