An Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot died after a MiG-21 fighter aircraft crashed near Moga in Punjab in the wee hours of Friday. According to the IAF, Squadron leader Abhinav Choudhary sustained fatal injuries in the crash.The incident took place around 1 AM at Langiana Khurd village of Baghapurana in Moga. The aircraft was on a routine training sortie when the accident occurred. The aircraft took off from Suratgarh in Ganganagar district of Rajasthan for Punjab’s Halwara. It crashed soon after taking off from Halwara to Suratgarh.”There was an aircraft accident last night involving a Bison aircraft of IAF in the western sector. The pilot, Sqn Ldr Abhinav Choudhary, sustained fatal injuries. IAF condoles the tragic loss and stands firmly with the bereaved family,” the IAF tweeted.A Court of Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident involving a Bison aircraft of IAF in western sector, the IAF added.The aircraft took off from This is the third crash of a MiG-21 aircraft this year. Earlier in March, a Group Captain of the IAF was martyerd after a MiG-21 Bison aircraft crashed. In January, a MiG-21 aircraft had crashed near Suratgarh in Rajasthan. The pilot had ejected safely.
