An Indian Air Force MiG-21 fighter aircraft crashed in Barmer area of Rajasthan on Saturday. The pilot and the co-pilot managed to eject safely.

The trainer aircraft crashed near a school at Mangi Ki Dhani in the desert district at 12.15 pm. The aircraft had taken off from Uttarlai airbase near Barmer.

Defence spokeperson Lt Col Manish Ojha confirmed the incident and said a court of inquiry has been ordered. “Around 12:15 pm a MIG 21 T 69 Trainer aircraft, which was airborne from Uttarlai Airbase near Barmer, has crashed. Both Pilots ejected safely. No reported damage to civil or service property,” he said.

District Collector Sudhir Kumar Sharma and Superintendent of Police Gagandeep Singhla rushed to the spot immediately. Singhla said that MiG 21, during its routine exercise took off from Uttarlai in Sadar police station area and after developing a technical snag, caught fire and exploded.

Recently a MiG-27 aircraft crashed in Jodhpur, Rajasthan on Monday. The pilots ejected safely but three people were injured.