A MiG-21 fighter of the Indian Air Force crashed on Friday near Bikaner in Rajasthan. According to reports, the fighter, which had taken off from the Nal Air Force base, crashed near Shobasar.
The ministry of defence said the pilot of the MiG-21 ejected safely. The MoD said initial inputs suggested a bird hit had caused the accident; a formal investigation will follow. The district administration rushed to the spot.
The MiG-21 entered service with the Indian Air Force in 1963 and various variants of the fighter have been operated. The Indian Air Force had said a MiG-21, flown by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, had shot down a Pakistani F-16 before going down on February 27.
The aircraft has had poor safety record in recent years. In Indian service, the MiG-21 has been involved in nearly 500 accidents, in which close to 200 pilots have lost their lives.