IAF MiG-21 crashes near Bikaner in Rajasthan after bird hit, pilot ejects safely

An Indian Air Force MiG 21 crashed in Rajasthan today after a likely bird hit. The pilot of the fighter jet ejected and is safe, the Indian Air Force said, adding that initial inputs suggest that the jet crashed due to a bird hit.

Bikaner's superintendent of police, Pradeep Mohan Sharma, told news agency PTI that the MiG-21 jet in Shobhasar ki Dhani, 12 km outside of Bikaner city.

The Indian Air Force said in a statement that the MiG-21 had taken from the Indian Air Force's Nal airbase in Rajasthan and that it was on a routine mission.

The Indian Air Force said, "Today afternoon a MiG-21 aircraft on a routine mission crashed after getting airborne from Nal near Bikaner. Initial inputs indicate the likely cause as bird hit after take off. Pilot of the aircraft ejected safely. A CoI [Court of Inquiry] will investigate the cause of the accident."

The MiG-21 crash in Rajasthan comes at a time of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. Air forces of both the countries have been involved in bombing missions in respective territories.

Indian and Pakistani jets even got into a dogfight over Jammu and Kashmir on February 27 leading to the brief capture of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.