IAF's MiG-21 crashes in Rajasthan’s Bikaner area, pilot safe

NEW DELHI (92 News) – An Indian Air Force's MiG-21 crashed in Rajasthan’s Bikaner area on Friday, said Indian media reports. The plane, a MiG-21 ‘Bison’, crashed after it reportedly was hit a bird. The pilot ejected and is reportedly safe. The jet went down in Bikaner's Shoba Sar ki Dhani area in the Indian state of Rajasthan. Investigation into the incident is under way, media reports said. The Indian Air Force said, in a statement, that the MiG-21 had taken off from the Indian Air Force's Nal airbase in Rajasthan and that it was on a routine mission. The IAF statement 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 crash comes amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan after over 40 Indian troops were killed on February 14 in the Pulwama incident. India accused Pakistan of the Pulwama incident without presenting any proof. The allegations were strongly refuted by Pakistan.