ISLAMABAD: India has announced the phased retirement of its ageing MiG-21 fighter jets, infamously nicknamed as the “flying coffin” due to their long history of crashes and fatalities, especially in recent years.
The Russian-made MiG-21 first entered service in 1963, on a trial basis. The Indian Air Force now has only 36 MiG-21 aircraft in its fleet — a stark contrast to the nearly 900, according to Indian media reports.
The Indian Air Force’s MiG-21 jets earned grim nicknames like “Flying Coffins” and “Widow Makers” due to their high accident rate.
The phasing out of the MiG-21 fleet follows a series of crashes involving the ageing aircraft, including a tragic incident in Rajasthan in May 2023, where three villagers lost their lives.
The MiG-21 involved in the incident had taken off from the Suratgarh Air Force base for a routine training mission but crashed near Bahlol Nagar in Hanumangarh due to a reported technical malfunction. After the accident, the Indian Air Force grounded its entire MiG-21 fleet.
It is worth recalling that Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was flying a MiG-21 when his jet was shot down by Pakistan Air Force and subsequently was captured by Pakistan.
Indian media, citing various estimates, report that India has lost over 400 MiG-21 aircraft—including variants and trainer versions—since their induction, with crashes resulting in the deaths of more than 100 pilots and several civilians.
Between 1993 and 2013, the Indian Air Force reported 198 MiG-21 crashes, resulting in the deaths of 151 pilots.
In July 2022, a MiG-21 Type 69 trainer aircraft crashed, killing Wing Commander M. Rana and Flight Lieutenant Adivitiya Bal.
The aircraft has a long and troubled safety record. In 2001, Flight Lieutenant Abhijeet Gadgil died in a crash, sparking public outcry and widespread media attention.
The MiG-21’s safety concerns were later highlighted in the 2006 Bollywood film ‘Rang De Basanti’.
Between 2010 and 2020, over 20 MiG-21 crashes were reported. In 2012, the Indian Defence Minister revealed that more than half of the 872 MiG aircraft had crashed, resulting in the deaths of 171 pilots, 39 civilians, and 8 service personnel.
The incidents continued into the next decade. In 2021, Group Captain Ashish Gupta died in a crash near Gwalior, while Squadron Leader Abhinav Choudhary was killed in Punjab’s Moga district. In December of the same year, Wing Commander Harshit Sinha lost his life in a crash in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
On July 28, 2022, two pilots were killed during a training sortie in Barmer, Rajasthan. Most recently, on May 8, 2023, a MiG-21 crashed again—while the pilot ejected safely, the crash claimed the lives of two civilians on the ground.
