Indian Air Force Group Captain martyred in MiG-21 Bison accident
A MiG-21 Bison aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) met with an accident on Wednesday morning while taking off for a combat training mission, the force said in a statement today. IAF Group Captain A Gupta lost his life in the tragic accident. Meanwhile, a court of inquiry has been ordered. Here are more details on this.
Accident took place at an airbase in Central India
"A MiG-21 Bison aircraft of IAF was involved in a fatal accident this morning, while taking off for a combat training mission at an airbase in central India (sic)," the Air Force revealed in a tweet this afternoon. However, the force did not reveal the exact location of the airbase where the accident took place.
IAF 'stands firmly with the family members'
The Air Force expressed condolences over the death of its official, saying it stands with the bereaved family members. "The IAF lost Group Captain A Gupta in the tragic accident. IAF expresses deep condolences and stands firmly with the family members. A Court of Inquiry has been ordered to determine the cause of the accident (sic)," its tweet further read.
Here is the tweet by the IAF
In January, another MiG-21 Bison jet had crashed in Rajasthan
The incident comes two months after another MiG-21 fighter jet of the IAF crashed near Suratgarh in Rajasthan during a training sortie due to a technical malfunction. The pilot had managed to eject safely then. The Indian Air Force has lost 27 aircraft, including 15 fighter jets and helicopters, in crashes since 2016, Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik had said in 2019.
Seven fighter jets, two helicopters crashed during 2018-19
During 2016-17, six IAF fighter jets, two helicopters, one transport aircraft, and one trainer aircraft crashed. The next fiscal year, the IAF lost two fighter jets and one trainer aircraft in crashes. Seven fighter jets, two helicopters, and two trainers met with accidents during 2018-19.
