IAF's MiG-21 Fighter Jet Crashes in Rajasthan; 3 Civilians Dead, Pilot Safe

An Indian Air Force MiG-21 fighter jet crashed near Hanumargarh in Rajasthan, killing three women as the plane crashed on a house, and as many were injured in the incident.

An Indian Air Force MiG-21 fighter aircraft has crashed near Hanumangarh, Rajasthan during its routine morning sortie on May 8, 2023. The aircraft had taken off from the Suratgarh Air Force Station of the Sri Ganganagar District in Rajasthan. While the pilot walked out of the incident safely, the death of three civilians has been confirmed by the local police as the plane crash-landed on a house. According to sources, the pilot is safe and a military helicopter has reached the accident site for rescue. Three women were killed and three more were injured in the crash. 

The pilot ejected from the plane and is undergoing treatment at the Suratgarh military hospital, reported PTI, quoting Om Prakash, IG, Bikaner range. The pilot made all efforts to avert human casualties and crash-landed the plane on the outskirts of a village, he said "Three women have died in the incident and three others are injured," he said. In a statement, the IAF said, "A MiG-21 aircraft of the IAF crashed near Suratgarh during a routine training sortie today morning".

A MiG-21 aircraft of the IAF crashed near Suratgarh during a routine training sortie today morning. The pilot ejected safely, sustaining minor injuries.
An inquiry has been constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident.

— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) May 8, 2023

SP, Hanumangarh, Sudheer Chaudhary said the plane crashed on the house of one Ratti Ram, killing his wife Basho Kaur and two other women identified as Leela Devi and Banto Kaur, reported PTI. Burn injuries led to the death of the women, he said, adding three people were also injured. According to initial reports, the house of Ratti Ram was completely damaged besides some nearby houses.

A local resident said he heard a loud sound and saw a parachute coming down. Within seconds, the plane crashes on the house of Ratti Ram and wood stored in the house caught fire. "Local people immediately started efforts to douse flames with the help of water and sand. Fire brigade and police reached the spot and the women were taken to a hospital," the local resident told reporters in Hanumangarh.

#WATCH | IAF and Rajasthan police officials at the spot in Hanumangarh where a MiG-21 fighter aircraft crashed, leaving 3 civilians dead

The pilot sustained minor injuries in the incident. pic.twitter.com/LJrxkJ9JaM — ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2023

Soon after the incident, locals gathered at the spot in large numbers. The Indian Air Force has ordered a court of inquiry to ascertain the cause of the accident. The MiG-21 fleet is on its last leg and all the remaining three aircraft from the fleet are planned to be poached out by 2025, stated ANI.

Earlier in January 2023, one pilot lost his life after two Indian Air Force fighter jets - a Sukhoi Su-30 and a Mirage 2000 - crashed during a training exercise in Rajasthan's Bharatpur. While one aircraft crashed in Morena in Madhya Pradesh, the other crashed and landed in Rajasthan's Bharatpur.

On July 28 last year, Defence Ministry informed that two pilots in a twin-seater Mig-21 trainer aircraft died after sustaining fatal injuries when it crashed near Barmer district of Rajasthan.