New Delhi, July 29: Defence Minister George Fernandes, after undertaking a flight on board the state-of- art Sukhoi 30MKI, now proposes to go ahead and fly in the MIG-21 fighter aircraft, dubbed by many as 'flying coffins". Fernandes, who was dared by members in the Lok Sabha to undertake a flight on the MIG-21, would fly a two seat trainer version of the MIG-21 at Ambala on Friday, according to defence ministry officials here.

In all 52 MIG-21 fighters have met with accidents since January 01,2000. Fernandes was almost mobbed in Mumbai yesterday by wives of the fighter pilots killed in MIG crashes who demanded that the aircraft be grounded. Fernandes, after taking over as defence minister has broken new ground by undertaking almost over 30 visits to Siachen Glacier labelled as the world's highest battlefield and also spent a night on board a submarine.

Bureau Report