MiG-21 Bison crashes while landing in Rajasthan, pilot killed

[Blackwater]

Uttarlai, Rajasthan: A MiG-21 Bison fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed today while landing at Uttarlai airbase in Rajasthan's Barmer district, killing the pilot.

"One MiG-21 Bison crashed at the Uttarlai airbase at about 0930 hours. The pilot sustained fatal injuries," the IAF said in a statement.

The aircraft had taken off with its Flight Lieutenant-rank pilot from the airbase for a routine training sortie and crashed while landing at the runway, officials said.


Defence Ministry spokesperson in Jodhpur Colonel SD Goswami said a Court of Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the reason behind the crash.

There was no reported loss to civilian life or property, he said.

Last month also, a MiG-21 plane from the same airbase had crashed but the pilots had managed to eject safely. The vintage MiG-21s have been in service for over 40 years now and they are expected to continue flying till 2018-19 in view of the delays in the induction of the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft.

The IAF had inducted over 900 MiG-21s in its fleet over a period of 40 years, half of which were lost in different crashes.

This year, this is the sixth crash involving an IAF aircraft and fifth of a fighter plane.

The aircraft which have crashed this year include one each of MiG-29, MiG-27, Su-30MKI and Mi-17V5 medium-lift helicopter. Two MiG-21s have crashed this year.

MiG-21 Bison crashes while landing in Rajasthan, pilot killed | NDTV.com

 

[ladder]

Rest In Peace.

 

[angeldude13]

rest in peace

 

[sayareakd]

RIP, it is high time both DRDO and IAF should make sure that LCA is inducted fast and replace Mig 21.

 

[TrueSpirit]

why..? ejector didn't work as expected ?

 

[sob]

what the hell are HAL and ADA doing. Every crash and loss of life is a symbol of the delays in our bloody system where there is no accountability.

 

[Neil]

Flt Lt Shikhar Kulshreshtha. R.I.P. brother.... condolences to his family and friends....

man...what a young lad...!! sad....

 

[Bhadra]

Salute young soldier

 

[Bhadra]

why..? ejector didn't work as expected ?

Ejecting while landing ? what is the reaction time ??

 

[roma]

RIP, it is high time both DRDO and IAF should make sure that LCA is inducted fast and replace Mig 21.

SIR - exactly my feelings - honestly , for heavens sakes, and other adjectives to that effect it is really high time that the boffins ( coffins ?) at the ministry of defence brought in our already operational LCA into action and replace ALL the mig21's - the mfg rate of LCA should be put into high gear ..... the risks of failure of LCA are far less than those of the mig21, an already a proven flying-coffin !

are there any brains in this continual usage of that aircraft ?

 

[sayareakd]

SIR - exactly my feelings - honestly , for heavens sakes, and other adjectives to that effect it is really high time that the boffins ( coffins ?) at the ministry of defence brought in our already operational LCA into action and replace ALL the mig21's - the mfg rate of LCA should be put into high gear ..... the risks of failure of LCA are far less than those of the mig21, an already a proven flying-coffin !

are there any brains in this continual usage of that aircraft ?

Maan problem is that they want F22 at price of LCA. Plus always think foreign maal is better.

Now that DRDO has double up IOC2 tests and HAL is next target to make up for international quality and production numbers.

Lets hope no more screw up with LCA, MRCA & FGFA.

 

[DivineHeretic]

Maan problem is that they want F22 at price of LCA. Plus always think foreign maal is better.

Now that DRDO has double up IOC2 tests and HAL is next target to make up for international quality and production numbers.

Lets hope no more screw up with LCA, MRCA & FGFA.

I wish it was that, really. But fact is, its not anything even close to that.

The decision to fly the Bison till 2019 means that the IAF can accept the Bison taking part in a war for the time-period.

If the bar of eligibility of the IAF( Never mind their claims of being forced, for if the Migs were totally unworthy they'd be scrapped along the lines of MIg-23) is so low as to allow a 3rd gen AC to participate in a conflict which could very well go nuclear, Then what the hell is the problem in inducting the LCA in operational roles at IOC standard?

Surely the LCA is superior to the god forsaken Mig-21 in all aspects, save speed. Its not like the LCA can perform any worse than the Bison, if thats the bottom line the IAF wants.

Why sacrifice the lives of brilliant pilots, each of whom have cost the GOI Rs.11 Crores to train, to satisfy inflated egos and dismantled ethics?

 

[redragon]

RIP, it is high time both DRDO and IAF should make sure that LCA is inducted fast and replace Mig 21.

Is LCA safer than MIG?

 

[datguy79]

Question to Indian members: Why does the IAF fly these in peacetime and not put them in storage like the USAF? I know that some of them are "upgraded" versions that fill a particular capacity.

RIP to the pilot, at least he died doing something he loved.

 

[sayareakd]

Is LCA safer than MIG?

yeah better then Junk fighter and J7.

 

[sayareakd]

Question to Indian members: Why does the IAF fly these in peacetime and not put them in storage like the USAF? I know that some of them are "upgraded" versions that fill a particular capacity.

RIP to the pilot, at least he died doing something he loved.

routine training missions. Every Fighter Pilot has to get min flying hours.

 

[sesha_maruthi27]

IAF looses another skilled pilot........RIP......

 

[ladder]

It is a common mistake that, LCA exclusively will replace MiG-21s.
Even Su-30MKI are replacing the older MiG-21
Ex- The 17 squad. at Bathinda Is now flying Su-30 MKI which previously flew MiG-21 M.
the 21 squad. at Sirsa will convert to Su-30 MKI from MiG-21 Bis.
The 15 squad at Bhuj has now converted/ converting to Su-30 MKI.

Similarly, Su-30 are also progressively replacing the MiG-27.
18 squad. at Kalaikunda will convert to Su-30 MKi from MiG-27
222 Squad. at Hashimara will convert to Su-30 MKI from MiG-27

( list doesn't contain all converted squad. of both the air-crafts)

The introduction of Rafale will also replace these two aircraft.

So, to say that IAF is waiting for LCA to replace MiG-21 though correct but not entirely correct.

Part of the blame is on the delayed MMRCA program.And part of it is on the slow up-gradation program which doesn't instill confidence.

Our, Inventory of MiG-21 is so huge that any program, towards replacing them will take time.
Anyways the damage is already done ( whose-ever fault it is) the delay in LCA production is a truth and whatever you do, it will take time to generate numbers.

So, IAF is doing it right by progressively replacing them( MiG-21, 27) with Su-30 MKI and not waiting for LCA.
If all goes well then Su-30MKI will replace all MiG-27 and MiG 21 Bis,M versions by 2019.( Not by 1:1 but sqdn. wise)

But, important question here is IAF's decision to stick to MiG-21 Bison variant beyond 2019.
So, is IAF correct in placing so much confidence in Bison variant?

 

[TrueSpirit]

Ejecting while landing ? what is the reaction time ??

In one Paris Air Show, saw a Su-30 pilot ejecting safely when very close to the runaway. He was trying some fancy maneuvers when his bird went out of control. But, the pilot ejected safely without any harm.

Now, what is being blamed ? Human-error, technical snag...?

 

[Kunal Biswas]

I have to admit, IAF does not care about there pilots..

Nor the care about winning a war..