On Tuesday, one more MiG-21 aircraft crashed in Rajasthan, killing its pilot. These aged planes, aptly dubbed “flying coffins”, should have been phased out of service much earlier. More than the Indian Air Force, it is the inordinate time taken by the ministry of defence to purchase vital defence equipment that is at the root of such crashes. Recent reports suggest the possibility of serious cost overruns in the 126 medium fighter planes contract. This can potentially derail the deal, creating room for more such accidents.
Photo: PTI
