Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sonia Gandhi (79) has been admitted to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, sources reported. It added that she has been admitted for a minor medical procedure. The hospital authorities have not released any details about the leader’s health status or the treatment/
The Supreme Court has halted a Madras High Court decision that barred TVK MLA R Sreenivasa Sethupathi from a floor test. The apex court found the high court's action unusual. Sethupathi had narrowly won his seat against a DMK leader. The Tamil Nadu government subsequently won its vote of confidence
The U.S. Senate Banking Committee late on Monday unveiled the text of a long-awaited, landmark bill that would create a regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies ahead of a scheduled committee vote to advance the bill on Thursday. Dubbed the Clarity Act
Chennai-headquartered on Wednesday announced that it has invested ₹70 crore in the (ONDC), which helps merchants and customers connect directly with each other, to support the development of sovereign technology in India.The company wants to make technology more accessible and inclusive for
Pati Patni Aur Woh Do Movie Review: A chaotic caper. One pati. One patni. Two women for anti-climactic reasons. A garrulous aunt. A couple of characters that don’t make sense. Some jokes that land. Some mentions of homophobia, casteism and a social message about how rumours often get perceived as
Indian women's hockey team to tour Australia ahead of Nations Cup in NZIndian women's hockey team to tour Australia ahead of Nations Cup in NZ Published on: May 13, 2026 12:15 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link New Delhi, The Indian women's hockey team will tour Australia for a four-match series from
IPL 2026: Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins faced a penalty of INR 12 lakh. This fine was imposed for maintaining a slow over rate during their IPL match against Gujarat Titans. The Sunrisers Hyderabad team experienced a significant defeat in the game
Alia Bhatt just landed at Cannes 2026, and while her “watercolour painting" gown was a total mood, everyone is talking about what she eats for glowing skin. In a chat with Marie Claire France on May 12, Alia didn’t talk about high-end facials but put the spotlight on something much closer to
The sun sets on India's iconic and controversial Soviet fighter jet
The sun sets on India's iconic and controversial Soviet fighter jet
The first time he throttled the MiG‑21 to full power, soaring 20km above the Earth at twice the speed of sound, the young fighter pilot felt utterly weightless, as if the sky itself had let him go.
"At Mach 2 you can feel the lightness in the stomach. The MiG‑21's turns at that speed are vast - banking sharply can carry you over many kilometres before completing a full arc," recalls Air Marshal (retired) Prithvi Singh Brar. He joined the Air Force in 1960, switched to the Soviet jet in 1966, and flew it for the next 26 years.
"I loved flying the MiG-21 the way a bird loves the sky. In combat it protected me - when the hawk comes for the bird, the clever bird gets away. That's what the MiG-21 was for me," he told me.
After six decades of admiration - and later, infamy - India's most iconic warplane is finally taking its last flight on Friday. At its peak, the MiG‑21 was the backbone of the Indian Air Force (IAF), making up two-thirds of its fighter fleet. It inspired fierce loyalty among its pilots, yet also acquired the grim nickname "flying coffin" after a series of deadly crashes in its twilight years.
According to official figures, between 1966 and 1980, India procured 872 MiG aircraft of various models.
Between 1971‑72 and April 2012, 482 MiG crashes were recorded, claiming 171 pilots, 39 civilians, eight service personnel and one aircrew, "caused by both human error and technical defects". There is no official update of the data since.
"The MiG-21 has a chequered legacy. The fighter was the mainstay of the IAF for over three decades and served in various roles in all of India's conflicts since the 1965 Pakistan war," says Rahul Bhatia, an analyst at Eurasia Group, a geopolitical risk consulting firm. "However, starting in the early 2000s, the fighter became better known for its high crash rate. Pilots look back at the MiG-21 fondly, but the aircraft stayed in service far longer than it should have," he adds.
Designed by the Soviets and first inducted in 1963, the needle-nosed MiG-21 was razor-slim, blisteringly fast at altitude and could climb with ferocious speed. At its peak, the jet flew with more than 50 air forces - from the Soviet Union, China and India to Egypt, Iraq and Vietnam - making it one of the most widely operated supersonic jets in history.
In India, where the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) began license-building it in the mid-1960s, the MiG-21 became the cornerstone of IAF squadrons, prized for its versatility across multiple combat roles.
Inside the MiG‑21 cockpit, pilots say, there was little comfort - just a single seat and the sky pressing in all around.
The air-conditioning - built for Russian winters - was barely adequate in scorching Indian summers. At low levels, cockpits often turned stifling and pilots could lose a kilo or more of body weight during a single sortie, remembers Air Marshal (retired) Vinod K Bhatia.
"Most of the sorties I flew were around 30 minutes long, so the discomfort was bearable. In the end, however, it was all part of the game and still enjoyable," he told me.
Originally a high-altitude interceptor built for speed and short-range climbs to reach the enemy over short distances, the MiG‑21 was quickly adapted by the IAF for close combat and ground attacks.
By the 1971 war with Pakistan, it had become a formidable multi-role fighter, though in 1965 war it was still new and mainly an interceptor. The MiG‑21 also shaped India's defence ties with Russia and helped jump-start its own aerospace industry.
"We adapted the aircraft to Indian conditions in a remarkable way. Though it had design limitations and wasn't built for close combat, we pushed it beyond what Russian test pilots and manuals taught, mastering close combat flying in a truly impressive manner," says Air Marshal Brar.
That adaptability came to define its role in the 1971 war. MiG-21s carried out low-level night strikes deep into Pakistani territory. A MiG-21 formation struck the governor's house in Dhaka, blasting rockets through its roof ventilators.
"Each aircraft carried two 500kg bombs, and I flew three-to-four such missions. Taking off from Amritsar, we were insidePakistan within 35 minutes, struck our targets 250km deep and raced back through Rajasthan - the shortest way out," says Air Marshal Brar.
Every fighter jet has its quirks and the MiG‑21 was no exception - fast descents and even high-speed stalls were part of its character, according to Air Marshal Bhatia. "Master it, respect it and it was a beautiful airplane to fly," he says.
For the pilots who flew it, the MiG‑21's tarnished reputation in later years is undeserved. "The media was very unkind to the aircraft," said one.
Defence analyst Rahul Bedi says there's a lot of "misplaced nostalgia around MiG-21 because it was responsible for so many deaths". Many attribute frequent crashes to ageing airframes and stretched maintenance cycles.
"MiG‑21's biggest challenge was its engine and high landing speed, which made descents tricky on short runways and contributed to many accidents - often blamed on pilot error. Attempts to retire the fighters were repeatedly stalled by inefficiency and bureaucratic inertia," says Mr Bedi.
The air force had to keep extending the MiG-21's service life as replacements were not available. The light combat aircraft meant to replace it was conceived of in 1981, first flew in 2001 and, even now, decades later, only two squadrons are operational.
With its last two MiG-21 squadrons retired, India will now have 29 fighter units against a sanctioned 42. Yet, for the pilots who flew it, the MiG‑21 was never just a machine - it was a partner in the sky.
Air Marshal Brar felt that bond first-hand, flying his last sortie out of the northern city of Chandigarh just two days before his retirement in July 2000.
I was in the sky once more, like a bird taking flight for the last time. When I landed and stepped out of the cockpit, I felt completely content.
Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, X and Facebook.
Source: BBC
Related Posts: MiG-29 Replacement Su-75 Checkmate Takes Flight MiG-21 added many proud moments in military aviation journey AI boom sends power bills soaring across the US grid Markets extend losses for 2nd day on soaring crude prices Middle East War Sends Oil Soaring Past $100 Hormuz Crisis Could Send Beer Prices Soaring Can datacentres in orbit solve for AI models’ soaring energy demand US beef prices are soaring Soaring pump prices drive US inflation to highest level in almost two years Musk expects Tesla's Full Self-Driving software to win full China approval in early 2026
Law college hostels cannot become mere ‘boarding and lodging facilities’: SCA Delhi HC judgment of 2025 had held that law students cannot be barred from appearing in examinations merely due to shortage of attendance. Published on: May 13, 2026 1:46 PM IST By Utkarsh Anand Share via Copy link
1 days ago
The Central Board of Secondary Education has officially declared the CBSE Class 12 Result 2026. Students who appeared for the Senior Secondary board examinations can now access their scorecards through the official CBSE websites and other digital platforms
1 days ago
Brain does visual processing, text prompts are a cognitive bottleneck: Xi ZengFrom visual reasoning to cultural context, Chance AI’s founder and CEO believes AI’s future is about prioritising perception and not just conversation Published on: May 13
1 days ago
Doctor shares early signs of prostate cancer every man must watch out for: Who is at the highest risk?The best way to fight cancer is to detect and start treatment early. Dr Atangwho shares signs to watch out for prostate cancer to help men do the same. Published on: May 13
1 days ago
Kolkata's Maidan circles mourn the passing of Swapan Sadhan Bose, 'Tutu Babu', a former Mohun Bagan President. He died at 79 following a cardiac arrest. Bose was a significant figure in Indian football administration for over three decades. His leadership saw Mohun Bagan embrace foreign players and
1 days ago
Angelina Jolie’s father Jon Voight worried about her plans to leave Los Angeles, pleading her to meet him one last timeJon Voight is finding it difficult to cope with reports that his daughter, Angelina Jolie, is planning to leave Los Angeles. May 13, 2026
1 days ago
The prices of gold and silver in India jumped sharply on Wednesday after the Union government increased import duties on the precious metals, making them more expensive in the domestic market. Gold futures on the Multi Commodity Exchange had risen by nearly 6% to Rs 1.62 lakh per 10 grams as of 10
1 days ago
‘I felt I belonged’: NRI Justin Bhandari on rediscovering Delhi with his Canadian partnerSpeaking to HT.com, NRI Justin Bhandari shares his journey of bringing his partner home to Delhi and finally feeling "normal" and seen. Published on: May 13
1 days ago
A temple festival in Tamil Nadu has sparked intense discussion online after a viral video showed devotees being handed over coins as prasad instead of making offerings at the shrine. The now-viral clip, originally shared on X by user @ramdevkar07, carried the caption
1 days ago
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.Stop throwing away wilted greens: 5 Smart fridges built to survive 48°C heatwavesThese refrigerators are getting up to 45% discount along with exchange offers and massive banking
1 days ago
Amid reports that Mouni Roy and her husband Suraj Nambiar are heading for a divorce, a new report has now claimed that they are already living separately. As reported by Siasat.com, ABP News’ Saas Bahu Aur Saazish claimed on Tuesday that Mouni and Suraj have already separated and are not living
1 days ago
Astrologer Reena Sharma’s predictions on world politics and Indian elections are drawing attention online after a podcast clip featuring her claims began circulating widely on Instagram. The video lists several bold predictions, including BJP victories in Bihar and Bengal
1 days ago
Uber CEO announced that the company is setting up its first data centre in India with the .He shared the update in a post on X while visiting , founder and chairman of the Adani Group.Taking to X, Khosrowshahi said the data centre is being set up to test and deploy the company’s technology
1 days ago
Indian origin Dubai Bling star Farhana Bodi's blue gown at Cannes 2026 is 15 kg of pure sparkle: ‘Thousands of crystals’Farhana Bodi dazzled in a custom gown at Cannes 2026, featuring thousands of crystals and a dramatic architectural collar, complemented by exclusive jewellery
1 days ago
Market Updates Today: Indian benchmark indices extended gains in noon trade on Wednesday, with the Sensex rising over 330 points and the Nifty reclaiming the 23,500 mark, as broad-based buying in metals, banks, FMCG and mid-caps lifted market sentiment after a volatile start to the session
1 days ago
There is no better excuse to play bartender than World Cocktail Day, celebrated every year on May 13. The day marks the first recorded definition of the word “cocktail," published in The Balance and Columbian Repository in 1806, and has since become a global celebration of mixology, creativity
1 days ago
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has decided to keep the Bhabanipur Assembly seat. He will vacate Nandigram, where a by-election will be held. Adhikari assured Nandigram residents that their development needs will be met. He drew a parallel to his past support for Nandigram
1 days ago
US President Donald Trump has taken a host of top business and technology industry executives on his trip to China this week. Among those joining the president on his official trip to Beijing are Nvidia's Jensen Huang, Tim Cook of Apple, Elon Musk of Tesla and SpaceX, Larry Fink of BlackRock
1 days ago
‘Give us space and privacy’: Mouni Roy breaks silence on separation rumours from husband Suraj NambiarMouni Roy and Suraj Nambiar are rumoured to have separated after unfollowing each other on Instagram. May 13, 2026, 13:52:29 IST By Santanu Das Share via Copy link For the last few days
1 days ago
Fresh concerns over the state of women’s football in India have erupted after a viral video allegedly involving players from Suruchi Sangha during the ongoing Indian Women’s League 2 (IWL 2) season spread rapidly across social media. The footage, widely circulated on X and Instagram
1 days ago
Bangladesh will not be intimidated by barbed-wire border fences and will not remain silent if killings continue along the boundary with India, Dhaka-based news agency UNB quoted Humayun Kabir, the foreign affairs adviser to Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman as saying on Monday
1 days ago
Is Nancy Guthrie suspect a woman? ‘Feminine features’ and ‘second mask’ theories emerge amid search for missing womanAmid various theories surfacing about the Nancy Guthrie case, one speculation that has emerged is that the suspect may be a woman. Updated on: May 13
1 days ago
CBSE to not release merit list for class 12 board exams. Here’s whyCBSE Class 12 results: A merit certificate to top 0.1% of students who have scored the highest marks in subjects will be issued by the board. Updated on: May 13, 2026 1:57 PM IST By HT Education Desk Share via Copy link The
1 days ago
Michael Mott criminal past: Frontier Airlines suicide victim's dark history revealed; chilling mugshots emergeMichael Mott racked up more than 20 arrests in Colorado dating back to 2002, including for attempted murder. Published on: May 13, 2026 12:49 PM IST By Sumanti Sen Share via Copy link A man
1 days ago
Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) create value only once they are implemented not when they are signed, Chief Economic Advisor V. Anantha Nageswaran asserted on Tuesday, warning that there is a “substantial” gap between what the trade deals promise and what the regulatory frameworks actually allow
1 days ago
Couple shares emotional struggle of moving from Gurgaon to Bengaluru: ‘It feels very heavy on heart’A couple shared their emotional move from Gurgaon to Bengaluru while struggling to find a home with a baby. Published on: May 13, 2026 1:11 PM IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Share via Copy link A
1 days ago
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.Cut your electricity bill by 30% with AI-adaptive ACs that learn your habits to save moneyA new wave of AI-adaptive units is doing something humans can't: they’re actually learning
1 days ago
