India is the largest operator of MiG-21s. Since the induction of MiG 21 in the Indian Air Force, numerous accidents have been encountered where we lost many Officers and civilians. In 2021, multiple MiG 21 Crashes happened, where some crashes resulted in the loss of the pilot while some ejected safely. Here is the list of MiG 21 Crash in 2021.

IAF MiG 21 Crash in Jaisalmer- 24 December 2021

A MiG-21 plane of the Indian Air Force crashed in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer on Friday (24th December) during a training sortie. In this mishap, we lost Wing Commander Harshit Sinha.

IAF MiG 21 Crash in Barmer – 25 August 2021

At around 5:30 pm, an IAF MiG-21 Bison aircraft airborne for a training sortie in the western sector, experienced a technical malfunction after take off. The pilot ejected safely. A Court of Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause. The IAF plane came crashing down near Matasar Bhoortiya village, leaving the impact spot and the area around it devastated. Click here for complete information.

IAF MiG 21 Crash in Moga – 21 May 2021

The Indian Air Force (IAF) MiG-21 fighter aircraft crashed near Moga in Punjab on 21st of May 2021. Pilot Sqn Ldr Abhinav Choudhary sustained fatal injuries in the crash. Body of Sqn Ldr Abhinav was found 2 km away from the crash spot after an intense search of nearly four hours. His parachute was found open and an SOS was also sent from his device to IAF, but he had died by then. He tried to land safely using the parachute, but apparently broke his neck and spinal cord. Click here for complete information.

IAF MiG 21 Crash in Gwalior – 17 March 2021

A MiG-21 Bison aircraft of IAF was involved in a fatal accident on 17th March 2021, while taking off for a combat training mission at an airbase in central India. The accident took place when the aircraft was taking off for a combat training mission. IAF lost Group Captain A Gupta in the tragic accident. Click here for complete information.

IAF MiG 21 Crash in Suratgarh (Rajasthan) – 5 January 2021

A MiG-21 aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed on 5th of January 2021 night near Suratgarh in Rajasthan. There was no loss of life as the pilot of the aircraft ejected safely. The incident took place around 8:15 pm. During a training sortie in the western sector, a MiG-21 Bison aircraft experienced a major technical malfunction.

About MiG 21 Fighter Plane

MiG-21s is dubbed as ‘flying coffin’ or the ‘widow maker’. since the induction of MiG 21 into the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 1963, as many as 482 MiG-21s had been involved in accidents leading to the death of 171 pilots, 39 civilians and eight personnel from other services.

But for all its dubious distinctions, there are still many in the IAF who swear by the MiG-21s and argue that the ‘flying coffin’ tag is misleading. But they do agree that it has been flown beyond its utility only to maintain squadron strength as the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) project got delayed.