Yet another MiG-21 crashes in Punjab, pilot safe

Ludhiana, Jun 15: Yet another MiG-21 fighter planed crashed near Halwara air base in Punjab at around 11: 15 am on Tuesday, Jun 15.

"A MiG-21 Type-96 aircraft crashed around 11.15 hours near S K Range near Halwara air base. The pilot ejected from the cockpit safely," an Indian Air Force (IAF) spokesperson said in New Delhi.

"The pilot had flown the plane from Pathankot air base for a routine armament training sortie at the range in Halwara when the mishap occurred," he added.

This crash adds to the long list of MiG crashes that the Indian Air Force has suffered over the years.

The IAF has already lost two fighter jet planes in 2010. A MiG-27 warplane crashed near West Bengal's Hashimara on Feb 16. The pilot, Wing Commander Oswald, was killed in the crash.

A MiG-21 Type-77 fighter aircraft crashed on Feb 19 at Bagdogra, West Bengal but the pilot managed to eject safely.

In 2009, IAF suffered a total of 11 crashes, out of which five involved variants of the MiG-21 fighter planes.

OneIndia News