Fernandes takes a flight in MiG 21

Ambala, August 01: In a bid to dispel fear about the safety of fighter jet MiG 21, dubbed as "flying coffin",
Defence Minister George Fernandes today took off in the Indian Air Force jet.

The 25-minute flight commanded by Flying Officer N Harish took off at 9:45 am under a cloudy sky, delayed after some morning rains.

This is septuagenarian Fernandes' second flight in a fighter after having flown by Sukhoi aircraft from Pune recently.

Fernandes' flight in MiG jet comes after a series of crashes of the aircraft of the variety in the last ten years and especially in the recent past.
More than 100 MiG 21s have crashed in the last ten years and 80 pilots have lost their lives.
Bureau Report