SHIMLA: The two Indian Air force pilots sustained fatal injuries in a MIG 21 trainer craft crash near Badmer in Rajasthan last evening, says the Indian Airforce spokesperson. Both the pilots later scummed today as all efforts to save them failed.
The illfated pilots, have been identified as Wing commander Mohit Rana, who comes from Mandi, Himachal Pradesh and Flt Lt Adivitiya Bal, Jammu.
The MiG- 21 trainer craft was on a routine training sorties when it crashed midair after it took off for the training sortie from the air force base.
The accident took place at around 9.10 PM last evening.
IAF has ordered a court of inquiry into the crash to ascertain the cause of accident.
IAF has expressed condolences to the bereaved families.
The accident has set social media enraged, with netizens seeking answer from the IAF and Defence Ministry to how long India would continue to lose young pilots in MiG crafts crash.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has mourned the death of the pilots saying his thoughts are with the bereaved families.
According to the statement given by Minister of state for Defence Ajay Bhat in Rajya Sabha today, as many 42 defence personnel have died in 45 accidents involving helicopters and aircrafts for the last five years. Out of these 45 accidents, 29 involved IAF personnel, he informed.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has mourned the death of the pilots and expressed his sympathies with the bereaved families.
Mandi Lok Sabha MP and Congress President Pratibha Singh and Chairman Congress Campaign committee Sukhvinder Sukhu have also expressed their condolences to the bereaved families.