MiG-21 crashes in Punjab, pilot ejects

Within a period of one month, one more MiG-21 of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed near Rajpura in Punjab on Tuesday morning.

However, it was a miraculous escape for the pilot, Flight Lt Arnav Ghosh, who ejected safely. No civilian causality was reported as it crashed in the open fields.

Earlier on August 2 this year, a MiG-21 was crashed in Bikaner soon after taking off from Naal airfield in Rajasthan's Bikaner district killing the pilot.

Incident took place on Tuesday when the ill-fated aircraft MiG-21 type 96 of the IAF taken off from Ambala based air base on a routine training sortie. At around 11 am it crashed in the fields of Rajpura near Ambala. The pilot immediately ejected safely and he did not receive serious injury. Though, he was taken to the hospital for first aid. Army and air force personnel from Ambala airbase and cantonment cordon off the entire crash area and to gather the remains of the aircraft.

Sources said that prima facie reason of the incident was technical snag developed in the aircraft. However, the spokespersons of the air force informed that a court of inquiry has been ordered to probe the incident.

The single-engined-MiG-21s have a horrifying track record. Of the 793 MiG-21s inducted into IAF since 1963, over 340 have been lost in accidents.

Known as 'Flying Coffin' or 'Widow Makers', it is third MiG type aircraft that has crashed in this year in the country.
During the last three years, around 42 accidents of Indian Air Force (IAF) aircrafts have taken place. In these accidents 17 pilots, 24 service personnel and 5 civilians have lost their lives.

Source: CHANDIGARH - by Ajay Sura, TNN- Sep 6, 2011 - THE TIMES OF INDIA (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com)

Photo: Indian Air Force (IAF) / Bharatiya Vayu Sena (BVS) MiG- 21FL Fishbed-D

(6.09.2011)