Indian Air Force pilot killed as MiG-21 Bison crashes in central India
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A pilot of the Indian Air Force (IAF) was killed on Wednesday when his MiG-21 Bison aircraft crashed in central India, a statement from the IAF said.
Group Captain A. Gupta had taken off for a combat training mission from an airbase before he experienced the fatal accident, said the statement. It added a court of inquiry had been set up to investigate and determine the cause of the accident.
"IAF expresses deep condolences and stands firmly with the family members."
Earlier in January, a MiG-21 Bison aircraft had "experienced a major technical malfunction" during a training exercise.
At the time, the pilot had ejected safely and there was no casualty. A court of inquiry had been ordered to "ascertain the cause of the accident".
A MiG-29K trainer aircraft of the Indian navy had also gone missing in November 2020. A pilot was recovered while an extensive search operation was launched to recover the second pilot and the wreckage of the plane, according to a statement from the spokesperson of the Indian navy.
An IAF pilot was also forced to eject from a MiG-29 aircraft as it crashed in Indian Punjab in May 2020. He was attended to by locals who gave him care and assistance.
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On DawnNews
Comments (97) Closed
Mar 17, 2021 03:54pm
Very sad, a loss of another pilot in these 'flying coffins'.
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Mar 17, 2021 03:54pm
RIP.
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Mar 17, 2021 03:58pm
it is never a happy moment when a young man loses his life due to the incompetence and poor policies of others.
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Mar 17, 2021 03:59pm
MiG-21 Bison, a flying coffin whether in dog fight or with technical fault.
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Mar 17, 2021 03:59pm
Indian government should replace these flying coffins. Now it's too old almost 60 years for flying. I also admire the bravery of abhinandan who followed modern Pakistani jets, alone with his 60 year old plane that too in their territory.
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Mar 17, 2021 04:01pm
Sad news
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Mar 17, 2021 04:01pm
They call this the flying coffin. Earlier if get rid of it better for us
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Mar 17, 2021 04:02pm
Salute the daring of Indian pilots. They donot think twice before entering such old aircrafts. Proud to be Indian.
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Mar 17, 2021 04:03pm
Unfortunate loss of a promising young man.
Prayers from Pakistan.
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Mar 17, 2021 04:22pm
Very sad to know the loss of a soldier. May he rest in peace
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Mar 17, 2021 04:24pm
RIP
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Mar 17, 2021 04:24pm
I hope it's not captain Abinandan.
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Mar 17, 2021 04:26pm
RIP. Prayers for the deceased pilot and family from Pakistan
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Mar 17, 2021 04:27pm
These old planes from the 1960’s must be scrapped ASAP.
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Mar 17, 2021 04:28pm
Tragic. A Group Captain (equivalent to full Colonel) lost his life. Our condolences to the family.
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Mar 17, 2021 04:36pm
SAD, condolence with the family.
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Mar 17, 2021 04:36pm
I am truly heartbroken by this accident and thinking about his close ones. I have heard he was a very good human being and decorated officer. To fellow Indians I say we waste all our time here fighting the Pakistanis. For what?? Can't we bring any positivity here or in our own country in these tough times?? Please think... all. Good luck.
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Mar 17, 2021 04:42pm
Rest In Peace.
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Mar 17, 2021 04:46pm
RIP dear sir, my instructor who taught me to fly. It is a great loss to Gupta Sir's family and to IAF. Question is when will we get rid of these vintage Mig-21s? If government does nothing for IAF, the morale of IAF pilots will go down further.
Regards.
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Mar 17, 2021 04:46pm
Loss of a soldier's life. Condolences from Pakistan. India needs to scrap these flying coffins from its air force.
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Mar 17, 2021 04:50pm
Sad RIP. These old airplanes should be scrapped as soon as possible. These MiG 21 Bis planes should be replaced by Tejas expeditiously.
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Mar 17, 2021 04:53pm
Can we imagine living in a world where relations between India and Pakistan and China are normalised and India doesn’t need to fly old fighters with compromised safety?
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Mar 17, 2021 04:55pm
@Pops, These planes are already being phaseout, MIG 27 already gone and upgraded Bison are being replaced.
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Mar 17, 2021 04:57pm
RIP
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Mar 17, 2021 05:01pm
Shuper power India flying the cheapest jets on earth which has even been discarded by the likes of Nigeria and Sudan
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Mar 17, 2021 05:08pm
A minor incident.
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Mar 17, 2021 05:08pm
Very sad news.
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Mar 17, 2021 05:12pm
Rest in peace
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Mar 17, 2021 05:14pm
India should buy JF-17 Thunder from Pakistan.
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Mar 17, 2021 05:19pm
RIP
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Mar 17, 2021 05:24pm
It’s time to park those old donkeys
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Mar 17, 2021 05:31pm
Super power india is playing with young lives, ground all flying coffins immediately.
very sad news.
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Mar 17, 2021 05:34pm
This is exactly why ingenious and much safer Western planes are more suitable for Indians. Thankfully we can afford many more of those today just like the awesome Mirage 2000s and other French hardware.
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Mar 17, 2021 05:34pm
@Hello Dave, this is the problem when you can't read an article in English.... a better education could have helped you understand what you read..
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Mar 17, 2021 05:40pm
RIP
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Mar 17, 2021 05:42pm
These 60 years old planes are taking soldier's life.
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Mar 17, 2021 05:47pm
Vert sad loss of plane and more specifically the human being. Guzni from Pakistan
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Mar 17, 2021 05:48pm
RIP.
Bad decisions from chain of irresponsible people cost someone’s life and family dreams.
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Mar 17, 2021 05:52pm
Just out source your Air force to PAF, safer for you all.
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Mar 17, 2021 05:53pm
Giving the Russian Air industry a bad name, next the French Air industry.
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Mar 17, 2021 05:54pm
@Pops, These old planes from the 1960’s must be scrapped ASAP.
The planes are not bad, just the pilots.
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Mar 17, 2021 05:55pm
@Anti-Corruption, India should buy JF-17 Thunder from Pakistan.
India should outsource Air Force to PAF, then they won't have to worry.
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Mar 17, 2021 05:56pm
@Rahul S. , Sad RIP. These old airplanes should be scrapped as soon as possible. These MiG 21 Bis planes should be replaced by Tejas expeditiously.
What you want more deaths from a flying coffin to another coffin.
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Mar 17, 2021 05:57pm
Poor super power india. Flying instructions were in Russian.
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Mar 17, 2021 06:04pm
Looks like the downed pilot needs more than medical assistance. Pure Bollywood.
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Mar 17, 2021 06:07pm
Pilots take great risks in flying fighter jets;he was an experienced Group Captain.
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Mar 17, 2021 06:13pm
MiG-21 has given nothing but embarrassment to India. First Abhinandan's plane was shot down, now a young pilot got killed because of it's malfunction. India should consider working together with Pakistan and China for the regional peace and prosperity. Avoid spending billions of dollars on war machinery, while poor in the slums are dying of hunger and unhygienic conditions. Indian military lacks passion and skills to fight, and will never be able to subdue Pakistan militarily.
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Mar 17, 2021 06:21pm
LOVE to all Pakistanis from India for showing respect for the deceased.
Thank you.
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Mar 17, 2021 06:44pm
MIGs are vulnerable buy Chinese Jets
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Mar 17, 2021 06:48pm
@bhaRAT©, last year there were two F16 crashes.
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Mar 17, 2021 07:03pm
Another precious life lost using these worthless killing machines. May his loved ones find courage and patience in dealing with this terrible loss, Ameen.
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Mar 17, 2021 07:19pm
Very tragic, condolences to the family.
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Mar 17, 2021 07:19pm
RIP a person to defend his own homeland be it our enemy. I feel sad for the family and offer my condolences.
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Mar 17, 2021 07:30pm
This jet is old and outdated and should not be part of any air force, another young life lost - RIP.
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Mar 17, 2021 07:36pm
@Zak, atleast not in Chinese.
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Mar 17, 2021 07:47pm
funny that IAF still using this relics to boost numbers
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Mar 17, 2021 07:56pm
Sad news. Another life lost too soon.
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Mar 17, 2021 08:02pm
Every life is precious, RIP to the pilot captain A.Gupta and my condolences to the family and all my Indian friends.
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Mar 17, 2021 08:08pm
RIP.
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Mar 17, 2021 08:13pm
The Russians just found out the reason for the plane going down and the reason was “the Pilot”.
RIP now.
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Mar 17, 2021 08:22pm
Sorry for your loss of life. RIP.
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Mar 17, 2021 08:22pm
Please also report that this Mig-21 also shot down 10 F-16s before crashing.
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Mar 17, 2021 08:24pm
@Zak, but the same nailed your F16.
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Mar 17, 2021 08:25pm
Sad moment of IAF. Doesn't matter if its India or Pakistan these precious lives should not be wasted due to old aged jets on training missions.
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Mar 17, 2021 08:29pm
Old aircrafts. Replace it with new aircraft. Pilot safety is important. India is rich country. They can do it.
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Mar 17, 2021 08:37pm
Starfighter was bought by Germany in 1960. About 900 "various inproved types" were in use till 1990. About 300 crashed. Mostly the planes were on the ground.
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Mar 17, 2021 08:52pm
Thanks Pakistan for showing great humanity.
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Mar 17, 2021 08:54pm
RIP
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Mar 17, 2021 09:04pm
Mig-21 is an antique fighter plane with so low safety features. Why does India send her pilots in the suicidal missions?
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Mar 17, 2021 09:39pm
As usual, In India fighter planes are crashed and in Pakistan commercial planes are crashed regularly.
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Mar 17, 2021 09:49pm
Sincere condolences to the family and friends from this side of the border
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Mar 17, 2021 09:55pm
The MiG-21....From Russia With Love.....A Flying Coffin.... Wake up Indian Air Force!!!
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Mar 17, 2021 09:59pm
Sad news.. India should replace these jets with new ones
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Mar 17, 2021 10:00pm
From top to bottom comments I would like to give respect to all Pakistani's for your heart warming comments, it's like Capt Abhinandan said, "ejected and landed safely but could not tell which country I was in" - We are the same as our neighbors.
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Mar 17, 2021 10:06pm
Russian gift to indians
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Mar 17, 2021 10:16pm
RIP. My deepest condolences to the bereaving family
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Mar 17, 2021 10:25pm
Abhinandin was lucky Pakistan shot down his MiG to save him.
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Mar 17, 2021 10:37pm
@RAja Raman , Mere delusion
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Mar 17, 2021 10:41pm
RIP... really very sad, that an innocent person loses life because ejection seats in fighter planes do not work as either they are made in Hindu-stan; or imported cheap useless stuff, by taking kickbacks and bribes;
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Mar 17, 2021 10:47pm
MIG 21 are only good to be placed in a museum
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Mar 17, 2021 10:52pm
No wonder the MIG 21 is called a flying coffin
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Mar 17, 2021 11:01pm
@Hello Dave, shame on you
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Mar 17, 2021 11:51pm
RIP. Sad day for the family and our condolences and sympathies go to the bereaved
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Mar 18, 2021 01:04am
@SUDESH KUMAR, Rust In Peace
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Mar 18, 2021 01:09am
india has lost more than 170 pilots flying mig aircraft, time to change your planes
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Mar 18, 2021 01:15am
Sad :(
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Mar 18, 2021 01:36am
RIP Soldiers are respected by every Pakistan. Even if it is Indian.
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Mar 18, 2021 04:41am
@Kashmiri, how many of these jets crash in other countries?
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Mar 18, 2021 04:43am
@Malik, Abhinowdown was very grateful on many counts ;-)
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Mar 18, 2021 05:07am
Best to have Modi fly these flying coffins
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Mar 18, 2021 05:56am
Indian Air force, still flying 60s plane and compromising the life of their pilots. This speaks volume of their preparations. I wish better sense prevails and both nations should walk towards peace, hand in hand.
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Mar 18, 2021 06:51am
@Zak, But your instructions were not in Russian How come you have regular crashes of planes and helicopters.
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Mar 18, 2021 07:01am
@Raghav, - Not even in the video game.
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Mar 18, 2021 08:22am
As a Pakistani, incidents like these give me no joy to read or hear. I am blessed with many Indian friends who are like family to me. Prayers for the departed pilot and his family.
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Mar 18, 2021 11:27am
It's high time they replaced MIG 21s with Tejas and other MIG aircraft with Mirages.
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Mar 18, 2021 02:19pm
Why can't they replace the old and obsolete Mig-21s considered as "flying graves" in the modern time and era by aeronautical Engineers and avionic scientists? Unfortunately, Mig-21 has been trashed long time ago by the former U.S.S.R. and the current Russian Airforce and these days, it could only be found at places of historical significance like the Duetsches Museum In Munich-Federal Republic of Germany, by far, the largest, top decorated and the most impressive technical museums in the world.
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Mar 18, 2021 03:02pm
@RAja Raman , only one in preparation for an air show the other one was nothing but a figment of indian air forces imagination. The US have clearly mentioned that the F16 indian claims to have shot down is accounted for in the f16 inventory. so lies dont get very far these days. However alongside with the mig bison you lost a latest Sukhoi russian jet.
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