Crashes of Fighter Jets
A MIG-21 fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) recently crashed at Nal airfield, Rajasthan, on 2nd August, 2011, in which the pilot was killed. No civilian was killed or injured in the accident. The number of MIG-21 aircraft crashes of the IAF during the last two years (FY 2009-10 & 2010-11) is given below:
FINANCIAL YEAR
NO. OF IAF MIG-21 AIRCRAFT ACCIDENTS
2009-10
04
2010-11
03
Since January, 2011, and up to 30th August, 2011, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has lost 4 fighter aircrafts due to crashes. The details of these 4 crashes are as follows:
No.
Date of accident
Aircraft Type
Pilot Killed
Service Personnel Killed
Civilians Killed/Injured
1.
4th February 2011
MiG 21 Bison
Nil
Nil
Nil/Nil
2.
1st March 2011
MiG 21
Nil
Nil
Nil/Nil
3.
2nd August 2011
MiG 21
1
Nil
Nil/Nil
4.
4th August 2011
Jaguar
1
Nil
1/1
Details of IAF aircrafts above the age of 30 years that have been lost due to accidents in the last two years (since 2009-10 and up to 30.8.2011) is given below:
No.
Date of Accident
Aircraft Type
Date of Manufacture
1.
19th February 2010
MiG 21
August 1973
2.
1st March 2011
MiG 21
September 1974
3.
2nd August 2011
MiG 21
May 1973
During the last two years (since 2009-10 and up to 30.8.2011), approximately 46% of the aircraft crashes in the IAF have been due to Technical Defects.
Every IAF aircraft accident is thoroughly investigated by a Court of Inquiry (Col) to ascertain the cause of accident and remedial measures are taken accordingly to check their recurrence in future. IAF has taken various measures relating to invigoration of aviation safety organisation, streamlining of accident/incident reporting procedure, analytical studies and quality audits of the aircraft fleets to identify vulnerable areas and institute remedial measures to reduce aircraft accidents. An Ornithology cell, for bird surveys at flying bases and bird prevention modules, has been established at the Directorate of Aerospace Safety. All flying bases have been visited by senior Aviation safety personnel of the IAF to apprise and caution the operating units about the causes of the accidents and to get views towards enhancing aviation safety. Accident prevention programmes have been given an added thrust to identify risk prone/hazardous areas specific to the aircraft fleets and operational environment to ensure safe practices/procedures. Steps have been taken by the Government to train pilots to prevent accidents due to human error. These include increased use of simulators to practice procedures and emergency actions, focused and realistic training with additional emphasis on the critical aspects of mission, introduction of Crew Resource Management and Operational Risk Management to enable safe mission launches, Aviation Psychology courses and introduction of Aerospace Safety capsules in the ab initio training of air crew.
This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in separate written replies to Shri N. Balaganga and Shri Prakash Javadekar in Rajya Sabha today.
PK/NN
(Release ID :75714)
