Six decades of MiG-21: How IAF's crown jewel became flying coffin
Inducted in 1963, the MiG-21s were once the crown jewels of the IAF, playing a crucial role in nearly every war India fought from the mid-1960s. But over time, this celebrated warhorse came to be known as a "flying coffin", a nickname earned after a series of crashes that claimed the lives of over 170 IAF pilots. How did this warplane become a symbol of tragedy?
Inducted in 1963, the MiG-21s were once the crown jewels of the IAF, playing a crucial role in nearly every war India fought from the mid-1960s. But over time, this celebrated warhorse came to be known as a "flying coffin", a nickname earned after a series of crashes that claimed the lives of over 170 IAF pilots. How did this warplane become a symbol of tragedy?
