A MiG-21 fighter aircraft today crashed soon after taking off from Naal airfield in Rajasthan's Bikaner district killing the pilot. "The pilot ejected but died due to injuries sustained by him," defence spokesperson S D Goswami told PTI.

flying officer m s pillai lost in a mig-21 crash

The MiG-21 'Type-96' aircraft was on a routine sortie and crashed near the airfield, which is about 15 kms from Bikaner city, he said. This is the second crash of a MiG series fighter aircraft this year.

On February 4, an IAF MiG-21 'Bison' fighter plane had crashed apparently due to an engine problem while on a routine sortie in Madhya Pradesh's Sheopur district but the pilot had ejected safely. In 2010, a total of 10 IAF aircraft crashes took place including four MiG-27 and two MiG-21 planes.

The aircraft which took off around 1200 hrs was flown by Flying Officer M S Pillai, defence sources said. The crash site, adjacent to the Naal airfield, has been cordoned off by the defence personnel who are investigating the incident, they said.

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