By Girish Linganna
May 21: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has decided to pause all MiG-21 operations until investigations are made into the cause of a fatal incident in Rajasthan. On May 8, a Bison aircraft from the Suratgarh air base crashed in a Hanumangarh village, and three people were killed.
Since their introduction, aircraft of Soviet origin have been associated with more than 400 incidents.
For more than fifty years, the variants of the MiG-21 have been incorporated into the Indian Air Force, but now they are in the process of being retired. Currently, only three MiG-21 squadrons remain in the IAF and they are set to be decommissioned by the start of 2025.
Why MIG 21 has gained a reputation for being accident-prone?
The MiG-21 is a single-engine, supersonic fighter aircraft that was first introduced in the 1950s. It was one of the first aircraft of its kind to be mass-produced, and it is still in use by a number of air forces around the world. However, the MiG-21 has a reputation for being accident-prone, and it has been nicknamed the "flying coffin." There are a number of reasons why the MiG-21 is considered to be accident-prone.
One reason is that it is an old aircraft. The MiG-21 was first introduced in 1959, and it has been in service for over 60 years. This means that many of the MiG-21s in use today are well past their original lifespan. As aircraft age, they become more susceptible to mechanical problems, which can lead to accidents. Another reason why the MiG-21 is considered to be accident-prone is that it is a relatively simple aircraft. The MiG-21 was designed to be easy to fly and maintain, which made it a good choice for developing countries. However, the simplicity of the MiG-21 also means that it is not as forgiving as more complex aircraft.
This means that pilots are more likely to make mistakes while flying the MiG-21, which can lead to accidents. Finally, the MiG-21 is a high-performance aircraft. It can fly at speeds of up to Mach 2.0, which is twice the speed of sound. This high speed makes the MiG-21 very manoeuvrable, but it also makes it more difficult to control.
This can lead to accidents, especially if the pilot is not properly trained. As a result of these factors, the MiG-21 has a high accident rate. According to the Aviation Safety Network, there have been over 1,000 accidents involving MiG-21s, resulting in over 200 fatalities. This makes the MiG-21 one of the most accident-prone aircraft in history.
Despite its accident record, the MiG-21 remains in use by a number of air forces around the world. This is because it is a relatively inexpensive aircraft to operate and maintain. However, the high accident rate of the MiG-21 is a major concern, and it is likely that the aircraft will eventually be replaced by more modern and safer aircraft.