After 62 years of active service, the Indian Air Force has officially retired its Russian-made MiG-21 fighter jets, once regarded as the backbone of India’s aerial defense. A formal farewell ceremony was held today to mark the end of an era.
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was the chief guest at the event. The highlight of the ceremony was Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh’s final flight in a MiG-21 Bison, call sign ‘Cloud 3’.
The MiG-21’s operational history is marred by a troubling safety record: out of 876 jets procured, 490 have been lost in accidents, claiming the lives of more than 200 Indian pilots and over 60 civilians. This grim legacy earned the aircraft the chilling nickname “Flying Coffin” among the Indian Air Force community.
The MiG-21 also drew international attention in 2019 during Pakistan Air Force’s Operation Swift Retort, when Indian Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman’s MiG-21 was shot down in Pakistani airspace, sparking a high-profile aerial confrontation.
Throughout its service life, the MiG-21 was used in several key military operations, including Operation Sindoor, the Kargil War, the Balakot airstrikes, as well as the Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971.
