National

MiG-21 trainers grounded

By Sandeep Dikshit

NEW DELHI MAY 3. The Indian Air Force today grounded the entire fleet of its MiG-21 BiS `75' type trainers following today's crash in Jalandhar, the second, in one month.

A month ago, Wing Commander Bundela, who had shot down a Pakistani aircraft for straying into India, suffered grievous injuries after his aircraft suffered a similar engine failure. His flying career is reported to be virtually over.

However, the grounding of the trainers would not affect the Air Force's operational preparedness, the Chief of Air Marshal, Air Chief Marshal S. Krishnaswamy, told presspersons.

Describing today's deaths as a "great tragedy'', the IAF chief said the aircraft was climbing when its pilot reported engine failure. After failing to restart the engine, Flt. Lt. S.K. Naik ejected to safety along with the trainee pilot.

Since Wing Commander Bundela's aircraft was also fitted with the indigenously manufactured R-25 engine, "it is our procedure and responsibility to examine why this occurred''. He expected the actual problem to come to light in 10 days although the preliminary cause in Air Force terms was "engine flame-out".

With several committees criticising the Government for forcing the IAF to continue training its pilots on the advanced MiG-21, the IAF chief said the process of procurement of advanced jet trainers (AJTs) was in the final lap. "Price negotiations have concluded and we are confident of getting the AJTs.'' He said both aircraft which crashed were well within their service lives and strongly resented the MiG-21 fleet being called flying coffins.

He said search was still on in the dense jungles bordering Bhutan for another MiG-21 trainer which was reported missing a fortnight ago. The IAF has deployed all possible sensors and the Army, in conjunction with its Bhutanese counterparts, was conducting a search for the aircraft.

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