Indian Air Force's MiG-27 crashes near Jodhpur in Rajasthan

E-Paper | May 01, 2026

A MiG-27 aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed near Jodhpur in Rajasthan on Sunday, Times of India (TOI) reported quoting officials.

The pilot of the MiG-27 aircraft ejected safely, said TOI, adding that the aircraft was on a routine mission when it crashed. According to the publication, officials cited "engine problems" as the reason for the crash of the "MiG-27 UPG aircraft which got airborne from Utarlai Air Force base".

Preliminary reports indicate no loss of property or life on the ground, TOI added.

This is the second Indian jet to crash this month; earlier on March 8, the IAF lost a MiG-21 after it crashed while on routine patrol in Rajasthan because of a "bird hit after take off".

Pakistan had downed two Indian aircraft on Feb 27, at least one of which was a MiG-21 Bison. The loss had triggered Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to say the results of the dogfight would have been different if India had inducted Rafale fighter jets into its air force — a comment seen as a veiled swipe at the MiG-21.

An Indian pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, was arrested by troops and later released by the government as a gesture of peace intended to defuse soaring tensions with New Delhi.

Despite both countries moving to de-escalate the situation, their respective air forces and armies remain operationally deployed.

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Bipul

Mar 31, 2019 01:15pm

These soviet era jets must be discarded anyways. Why risk pilots.

Recommend 0

Ali

Mar 31, 2019 01:24pm

their entire airforce would disappear in no time at this rate. Pakistan won't have to do a thing!

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Sheraz

Mar 31, 2019 01:24pm

One more down! Keep counting

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Sameer Shinde

Mar 31, 2019 01:29pm

Actually you can take credit by claiming that you shot the plane using some advance technology.

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ALIG

Mar 31, 2019 01:32pm

Fear of Pakistan air force. PTSD is a thing, look it up people.

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Surya Kant Agrawal

Mar 31, 2019 01:34pm

This is normal. India can afford it.

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Faisal

Mar 31, 2019 01:40pm

@Sameer Shinde, why do we claim when they are falling themselves from sky?

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M. Saeed

Mar 31, 2019 01:41pm

These are routine crashes of old and ill-maintained combat crafts.

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Welcome

Mar 31, 2019 01:46pm

This is how ISRO looked like in the 80-90’s. So many failures. Look at it now. Hold on till the modernisation kickoff in IAF...

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anwar imdad

Mar 31, 2019 02:01pm

With this rate by 2022, IAF will have only fighter simulators for fantasizinf the flying.

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ehsan

Mar 31, 2019 02:03pm

@Sameer Shinde, No need to take credit, when your airforce can do the job itself. Well done IAF, keep it up, that is the only thing you are good at.

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Texas Ranger

Mar 31, 2019 02:04pm

Modi reinforcing his narrative of purchasing Rafael aircrafts.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmaod

Mar 31, 2019 02:10pm

The only Air force in the world which is bent upon killing its own pilots by forcing them to fly these old and obsolete Russian aircraft's, known in the civilized world as "flying graves."

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Waqas

Mar 31, 2019 02:19pm

Indian Pilots haven't recovered from Feb27 attack yet.

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Nahar01

Mar 31, 2019 02:25pm

@Ali, Keep Dreaming

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Pride

Mar 31, 2019 02:25pm

It's normal for any air force. Such incidents pushes the government towards modernization.

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Ali

Mar 31, 2019 02:27pm

A Mig-21 crashed due to a “bird hit.” Just let that sink in.

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Mahmood

Mar 31, 2019 02:32pm

A relic of 70s and 80s. What do you expect with such aged planes and poor maintenance!??

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bhaRAT©

Mar 31, 2019 02:33pm

Another 'friendly fire'?

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Mahmood

Mar 31, 2019 02:33pm

@Sameer Shinde, "you can take credit by claiming that you shot the plane using some advance technology." How do you know, that we didn't?

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Talha

Mar 31, 2019 02:35pm

Hope instead of spending money on advanced weapons, educated Indians and Pakistanis realize the need to spend on jobs and education.

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Hindustaani

Mar 31, 2019 02:38pm

When India government will relies to eliminate all the MIG series from IAF? Too OLD Technology.

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Sheshanth

Mar 31, 2019 02:39pm

Junk is getting cleared to make way for Rafale and Su-57

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Gordon D. Walker

Mar 31, 2019 02:44pm

Not a confidence builder... Gordon D. Walker Canada

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Avik Sarkar

Mar 31, 2019 02:50pm

Destroy these damn migs and get the latest migs. Else these old aircrafts will just keep killing our young guns who put their life on the line for us.

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Syed Ghazanfar Abbas

Mar 31, 2019 02:54pm

@Bipul , once an Indian defence minister called these machines as "flying coffins"

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FairPlay

Mar 31, 2019 02:55pm

Old outdated jets held together by glue.

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FairPlay

Mar 31, 2019 02:58pm

@Sameer Shinde, no we would rather declare it pilot incompetence, why waste on advance technology. I bet Indian papers say they were filming a Bollywood film called LOC 2.

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Alien

Mar 31, 2019 02:59pm

@Surya Kant Agrawal, “This is normal. India can afford it”. If this is normal then please explain what abnormal would look like?

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Ehsaan

Mar 31, 2019 03:02pm

Modi seems to have directed IAF top guys to get destroyed as many MiG planes as possible; so that the Rafale scam goes in his defense... particularly to win the election...

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SHUJAAT

Mar 31, 2019 03:04pm

this is your reality...

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Hgfd

Mar 31, 2019 03:15pm

Rafaels will start arriving from September. Need to make space for those.

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Scorp

Mar 31, 2019 03:19pm

There is no need for an enemy jet...All the MIGs are bound to self destruct. The enemy can relax without moving an inch and wait for things to happen.

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Imran

Mar 31, 2019 03:24pm

@Sameer Shinde, No bro, we will only take credit when we invite the pilot for a cup of tea. That's called actionable evidence.

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NPS

Mar 31, 2019 03:24pm

High time for India to buy reliable jets other than Soviet Aera coffins.

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NPS

Mar 31, 2019 03:26pm

@Sheraz, dont worry India can afford 100 jets from the shelf at short notice.

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M. Emad

Mar 31, 2019 03:29pm

India now a space superpower.

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NPS

Mar 31, 2019 03:30pm

It shows how much work waiting for Modi. Privious governments did nothing to arm the airforce, army and Navy with new and modern weapons.

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last comment

Mar 31, 2019 03:30pm

India has gain ability to fight in space but losing in sky

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Comment

Mar 31, 2019 03:40pm

India is testing all their planes few faulty are falling out.

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Liberal

Mar 31, 2019 03:42pm

We are hear to learn from our failures besides this will prove to be a catalyst for modernisation of the IAF.

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Aamir

Mar 31, 2019 03:43pm

@Surya Kant Agrawal, Normal? No doubt IAF caliber is so low.

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A Sheikh

Mar 31, 2019 03:44pm

And India wants to become Space power - what a joke :)

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Rahul

Mar 31, 2019 03:45pm

Russian jet engine are unreliable.

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Fastrack

Mar 31, 2019 03:48pm

7th aircraft lost by IAF in 1.5 months. Must be a world record.

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Najma Hisham

Mar 31, 2019 03:48pm

they need to put more rubber bands to hold the engines together.

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Anser

Mar 31, 2019 03:57pm

Are the pilots testing the ejection seat to be sure that it works!

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Dash

Mar 31, 2019 03:59pm

@Sheraz, 132 Rafael coming

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Saad

Mar 31, 2019 04:30pm

Look at the bigger picture. These crashes are being carried out intentionally by India. So that in future the government could allocate more fund to purchase new Rafale jets. As Modi previously whined. This is planned.

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Babban

Mar 31, 2019 04:33pm

@Ali, You are so hilarious

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Rashid

Mar 31, 2019 04:46pm

Too much different types of aircrafts are a logistic nightmare for the Indian air force.

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Taimur Malik

Mar 31, 2019 05:06pm

An old machine.

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ali

Mar 31, 2019 05:21pm

@Welcome , Wishful thinking !!

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Superb

Mar 31, 2019 05:24pm

Rafel is coming soon

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Pakistani

Mar 31, 2019 05:31pm

I thought, Mig 21s has the problem, now it's Mig-27, so what's next Sukhoi-30 Mki?. Oh, wait, 10 of them have already crashed, one was shot down. So whats next, Tejas?. Even if India get Rafaels now, it will take 2 years for their pilots to be fully trained on those jets, and if some thing happens, what will they say? It's the jet fault?

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rational voice

Mar 31, 2019 05:35pm

@Surya Kant Agrawal, its not normal.this is called an international embarrassment .dont go for the usual excuse like old jets of 70s,various central asian countries still use these .Even PAF uses mirage of 60s .i think rafales will see the same fate at the hands of IAF!!!

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Jehengir khan

Mar 31, 2019 05:36pm

On an average, every 5-6 MIG goes down but still IAF won't scrap them....these were procured in 60s.....just let it go.....

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Naxalite

Mar 31, 2019 05:43pm

And it continues...

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Naxalite

Mar 31, 2019 05:43pm

Really feel sorry for poor pilots who have to fly these dead machines

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Naxalite

Mar 31, 2019 05:44pm

Another feather in the cap

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Naxalite

Mar 31, 2019 05:44pm

IAF is loosing its jets fast

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Naxalite

Mar 31, 2019 05:44pm

Only 1 similar plane is left now in IAF

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Naxalite

Mar 31, 2019 05:45pm

War machines are expensive, you can't buy new hardware all the time. Give peace a chance!

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haider shaikh

Mar 31, 2019 06:04pm

India has become a laughing stock by Modi's claims and MiGs. I hope the missile was not fired from MiG to hit the satellite in the space!

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SAK99

Mar 31, 2019 06:29pm

Indian Air Force is an air worthy but not a combat worthy force.

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Observer

Mar 31, 2019 06:33pm

@Ali, India has who bunch of Sukhois, MiG29s, Mirage and Jaguars. Rafales are joining from Sep 2019. This could be blessing in disguise as it would futher intensity modernization of IAF. A conflict with Indian Airforce will be unthinkable.

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Fawad bhai

Mar 31, 2019 06:40pm

Israel made defense system again? India can stop shooting down its own Jets, helicopters and satellites now .

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Fawad bhai

Mar 31, 2019 06:41pm

@Welcome , Looks like that is Modi's plan... His dream of Rafale come true with each of these "accidents"

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RationalBabu

Mar 31, 2019 06:45pm

@Sheraz, you can rejoice. Accidents happen everywhere!

Recommend 0

Mar 31, 2019 07:08pm

A Russian acquaintice once explained why he didn't fly Russian airlines: apparently Russian planes fall too frequently. I now know what he meant.

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Anon

Mar 31, 2019 07:25pm

India loses about 100 fighter aircrafts every 4-5 years.(cnn)

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Faisal Naqvi

Mar 31, 2019 07:43pm

@Sameer Shinde, That is so.something India is famous for. Remember the recent high tech best un the world surgical strikes. When asked for proof.. crickets...

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Faisal Khorasani

Mar 31, 2019 07:44pm

Their military is second rate and riddled with corruption.

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Chanakya

Mar 31, 2019 07:48pm

Shame on Indian Goverments for not taking correct decisions at correct times to replace old fighter jets. Now, IAF pilots have to risk their lives daily while doing their jobs.

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sujit

Mar 31, 2019 08:06pm

@Ali, Will be replaced with Rafale

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Syed The Truth Teller from USA

Mar 31, 2019 08:11pm

Dont blame the MIGs for the crashing as they are old. It is the poor training of the pilots which matters. I965 war proved that the old obsolete F-86 was used by Sqn Ldr MM Alam of PAF shot down 5 superior Indian Aircraft in one go creating a World Record. The Indian Air Force Chief stated that the air battle was lost by India because of Pakistani Pilots. PM Moodi's statement that if India had Rafale Jets, then it would have been a different story is completely wrong. It needs better training for the pilots.

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Shaan

Mar 31, 2019 08:19pm

@Sameer Shinde, no India is master in that.

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Satya

Mar 31, 2019 08:24pm

@Ali, when we lose 2, we buy 10 more. We can easily afford to do so. So don't worry my friend.

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Fawad bhai

Mar 31, 2019 08:28pm

@Bipul , But they are good enough to bring down F-16 Right?

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Hafeez

Mar 31, 2019 08:31pm

@Welcome , my friend these are so called modernized planes and pilots. What more you want to do except buy Raffles and face same fate.

Recommend 0

Hussain

Mar 31, 2019 08:34pm

I'm sorry but I can't stop laughing

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Rajesh

Mar 31, 2019 08:35pm

@Ali, Rafael are on the way. MIG is already retired India doesn’t mind loosing it

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Rajesh

Mar 31, 2019 08:35pm

Rafael’s are on the way. MIG is not important to India

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Demellow The Marshmellow

Mar 31, 2019 08:47pm

@Sameer Shinde, Actually you can take credit by claiming that you shot the plane using some advance technology. No thanks, we are not Indians.

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Seedoo

Mar 31, 2019 08:50pm

Indian fighter planes have become victims of their own imaginary surgical strikes :-)

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Ali (CA)

Mar 31, 2019 08:58pm

@Sameer Shinde, that's an Indian philosophy not Pakistan. Keep trying

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Salman

Mar 31, 2019 09:42pm

This was an upgraded version yet the result is same.

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Anonymouseeeee

Mar 31, 2019 09:46pm

It’s not the planes, it’s the hopeless Indian pilots.

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Adnan

Mar 31, 2019 09:57pm

@Surya Kant Agrawal: Great to hear that India can afford it but I think you may be missing the bigger picture. If your planes can't even defend themselves under normal circumstances, how will they defend your airspace under war circumstances!

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Naeem

Mar 31, 2019 10:00pm

The MiGs seem to be not recovering from the shock that Pakistan dealt with them...

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javed

Mar 31, 2019 10:00pm

@Sameer Shinde, When you guys find excuses for your unnecessary loses there is hardly any room left for us to take credit. we only take credit for what we accomplished on Feb 2th and that is a downed pilot in our custody, the unrefuteable proof !!!

Recommend 0

Dr Amjad Farooq

Mar 31, 2019 10:02pm

Absolutely no problem for India. New Rafale fighters are coming and F-16 production is starting. The old fighters must go.

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Azhar Hussain

Mar 31, 2019 10:10pm

Another one bites the dust

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Salman Khan

Mar 31, 2019 10:11pm

@Sameer Shinde, We could, but we're not India.

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Salman Khan

Mar 31, 2019 10:12pm

@Surya Kant Agrawal, Whatever floats your boat.

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Reyaz

Mar 31, 2019 10:25pm

Indian airforce may be crashing them deliberately inorder to get rid off these old fighter jets.

Recommend 0

Sachin

Mar 31, 2019 10:33pm

These help to further push buying modern aircrafts. Welcome Rafale and Indian manufacturing of F16

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Shehryar

Mar 31, 2019 10:40pm

Only if they had rafales

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Kashmiri

Mar 31, 2019 10:42pm

First learn to fly it straight then come across the border to fight.

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Well-wisher

Mar 31, 2019 10:59pm

@Ali, now you understood why Abhinandan's jet crashed.

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Sorab

Mar 31, 2019 11:09pm

@ALIG, u really believe that ??

Recommend 0

Taha

Mar 31, 2019 11:33pm

@Surya Kant Agrawal, Yes Crashing their jets twice a month is normal. . .

Recommend 0

Safiya

Mar 31, 2019 11:40pm

Scripted crash of jets just to make it possible for attaining rafael planes

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Pakman

Mar 31, 2019 11:53pm

Indian Air farce another pilot ejaculates safely.

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Un-Zak

Apr 01, 2019 12:18am

Rafael's are coming. Very soon

Recommend 0

aman

Apr 01, 2019 12:51am

good- modi wants to act like a super power to initiate a war with Pakistan to win election while millions of Indians sleep hungry, every night !

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ismailnustain20

Apr 01, 2019 12:52am

@Surya Kant Agrawal, Now this is also described as achievement of India, wow.

Recommend 0

Omar

Apr 01, 2019 01:02am

@Sameer Shinde, NO, we don’t claim fake credits. We capture , serve tea and release - kinda like catch and release fishing ( photo proofs provided)

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mubbii

Apr 01, 2019 01:11am

Nothing to watch here ppl, indian planes falling from the sky. normal.

Recommend 0

Jinnah

Apr 01, 2019 02:07am

Russian junk never fails to disappoint, as usual over promise and under delivery.

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Foreign Observer

Apr 01, 2019 02:11am

India’s aging fleet is well past retirement. IAF need to needs to act now to retire all MIGs. It’s not worth losing a very trained pilot.

Recommend 0

Zak

Apr 01, 2019 02:23am

@Sameer Shinde, We dont lie for elections.

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Imtiaz Ali Khan

Apr 01, 2019 02:53am

The pilot of the MiG-27 aircraft ejected safely, I'm glad as soldiers are all sacred who are used by Indian politicians to dislike Pakistan.

Recommend 0

Reader

Apr 01, 2019 03:19am

Money better spent on Education, Eradication of Poverty; when will the leaders understand the needs of the people rather than thumping their chests and getting re-elected ?

Recommend 0

Irfan Baloch

Apr 01, 2019 03:51am

Indian airforce jets summed up as some shot down by PAF rest on their own due to Modi's madness

Recommend 0

Apr 01, 2019 04:24am

Thanks to Congress

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Qaiser

Apr 01, 2019 06:10am

Is there any chance that the IAF is doing it intentionally for two reasons ...one to get rid of vintage inventory thereby saving the life of pilots and secondly promoting Mr Modis reported vedted interest in Rafale jets...food for thought

Recommend 0

Ahmed

Apr 01, 2019 06:29am

First time it was a

Recommend 0

Iqbal

Apr 01, 2019 06:46am

How many IAF MiGs have crashed so far since they were first inducted into IAF ?

Recommend 0

Iqbal

Apr 01, 2019 06:47am

@Sheraz, What is the present count : 400 or 500 crashes?

Recommend 0

Murli

Apr 01, 2019 07:01am

India’s missile and space technology will be sufficient to take care of enemies. It won’t need aircraft’s to fight a war.

Recommend 0

Waseem

Apr 01, 2019 07:46am

Migs can't carry thier weight, its2 cruelty to put them in fight. Didn't read details but hope pilot would be safe.

Recommend 0

rahat

Apr 01, 2019 08:11am

Indians are over using these old jets. They should immediately get new fighter planes however due to corrupt opposition parties, the process of new purchase is stalled for years. Hopefully with new mandate, the government will soon accelerate the upgrade plans.

Recommend 0

Dawn

Apr 01, 2019 08:39am

Have the Indian Air Force pilots lost confidence after episode 1?

Recommend 0

Zak

Apr 01, 2019 08:50am

@Welcome , And still won't make a difference.

Recommend 0

Muqali Khan

Apr 01, 2019 10:45am

Junkyard stuff not worth flying.

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Chingez Khan

Apr 01, 2019 10:56am

Indian govt. and IAF themselves destroyed this jet to be able to get Rafael corrupt deal.

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Sds

Apr 01, 2019 11:44am

And they peddle the lies that a soviet era MiG downed an F16. India has made itself a laughing stock in the whole world.

Recommend 0

Indian Air Farce

Apr 01, 2019 12:20pm

Meanwhile journey to Mars continues

Recommend 0

Babu

Apr 01, 2019 12:20pm

These are used for trials and training and it is common affair.

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RationalBabu

Apr 01, 2019 03:40pm

@Ehsaan, you have a vivid imagination!

Recommend 0

Kamran Khan

Apr 01, 2019 04:42pm

A big motive is hidden behind disposing of these jets

Recommend 0

Pashtun

Apr 01, 2019 06:29pm

@Surya Kant Agrawal, - Afford what? Risking the lives of its pilots?

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Pashtun

Apr 01, 2019 06:32pm

@Pride, Can you back your statement with proof?

Recommend 0

Ind

Apr 01, 2019 07:14pm

we have enough.. good that all older versions are dispatched.

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Justice

Apr 01, 2019 08:48pm

Power is nothing without control that’s why you need decent pilots who can fly......that rules out a lot of IAF PILOTS.

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sfomann

Apr 01, 2019 09:51pm

@Talha, yes and if only Modi gov can realize that.

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Javed

Apr 01, 2019 10:24pm

@Alien, When SU30MKI start falling from the sky at the same regularity as MIG21 (470 crashes so far) did. Even Rafale in a few years cannot be ruled out with the same fate. India returned the first batch of 16 SU30Mki to Russia after using them for a few years, blaming poor quality control but in reality, this fighter is technologically way too complicated for IAF. Russian way of doing aerospace engineering is not only strange but their design philosophy is very different from the Western countries No wonder there are only a handful of customers around the world and India is the biggest them of all.

Recommend 0

Marconi

Apr 01, 2019 10:37pm

@Sameer Shinde, No, that is India's habit.

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Marconi

Apr 01, 2019 10:37pm

@Surya Kant Agrawal, Well in that case they should do it more often.

Recommend 0

Jack

Apr 01, 2019 10:40pm

@Welcome , ISRO is independent body and nowhere it is connected with aircraft manufacturing or no relation with HAL. ISRO is focussing of space business only.

Recommend 0

Pramod Kumar

Apr 01, 2019 11:14pm

false news

Recommend 0

moeazze

Apr 01, 2019 11:14pm

Modi is focusing on Satellite war

Recommend 0

Reality

Apr 01, 2019 11:25pm

@Bipul , India needs to train its pilots to fly planes and not make excuses.

Recommend 0

Rav

Apr 02, 2019 01:30am

Last year US had 12 routine crashes, the most advanced Air Force on the planet. This year in January Russia lost 3 fighter jets in one month, a super deadly Air Force. India is losing 10-12 aircraft a year, its rate of accidents statistically is much better compared to many other countries operating large fleets. That said, it is time to decommission the MIG-21s for good, they are 56 yrs old, outdated and plagued with maintenance problems. The civilian controlled Defense department is criminally negligent.

Recommend 0

Ashu

Apr 02, 2019 07:54am

@Sheraz, wait Rafale is coming as well Tejas mak2 is coming

Recommend 0

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