An Indian Air Force MiG-21 caught fire in the air and crashed in Jaisalmer district, Rajasthan. The pilot, Wing Commander, died in the crash and the aircraft was destroyed
Confirming the news, the official handle of the Air Force tweeted, “This evening (Friday), around 8:30 pm, a MiG-21 aircraft of IAF met with a flying accident in the western sector during a training sortie. Further details are awaited. An inquiry is being ordered.”
The Air Force tweeted confirming the death of the pilot. “With deep sorrow, IAF conveys the sad demise of Wing Commander Harshit Sinha in the flying accident this evening and stands firmly with the family of the braveheart,” the tweet said.
The 39-year-old Indian airforce fighter pilot Wing Commander Harshit Sinha was survived by his wife Squadron leader (retd) Priyanka Sinha and two minor daughters.
Several MiG-21 crashes have been reported this year alone. The aircraft has been dubbed “flying coffin” as it makes news regularly for crashes.
From 1971 to April 2012, as many as 482 MiG aircraft have met with accidents, killing 171 pilots, 39 civilians, eight service personnel, and one aircrew, the government had told Parliament in May 2012.
“The causes of accidents were both human error and technical defects,” the government had said.
