MiG trainer aircraft crashes in Rajasthan: 2 pilots missing

BARMER (Rajasthan): A trainer version of MiG-21 fighter aircraft crashed soon after getting airborne from Uttarlai airbase on Tuesday with both pilots reported missing so far.

"The aircraft crashed near Uttarlai village in Barmer district at 1535 hours," an IAF spokesman said in New Delhi adding the plane, which was on a routine flying-training mission, crashed soon after getting airborne.

"Both the pilots of the aircraft are missing and their fate still unknown", the spokesman said adding air rescue missions had been launched to trace them. A team of flight safety officials from Air Headquarters had rushed to the spot.

The IAF has ordered a court of inquiry to find out the cause of the accident. The ill-fated aircraft was one of the older versions which are progressively being phased out.