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Article: Despite string of crashes, Indian air force won't jettison MiG fighter jets, says India's air force chief
- Article from:
- AP Worldstream
- Article date:
- June 25, 2003
- Author:
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Dateline: NEW DELHI, India
Despite a string of crashes that killed more than 50 pilots in five
years, the Indian air force has no immediate plans to phase out its
fleet of Soviet-made MiG fighter jets, a Defense Ministry official
said Wednesday.
More than 100 of India's MiG fighter aircraft have crashed in the
last six years, giving the jets the nickname "flying coffin." Nine
pilots died in 20 MiG aircraft crashes last year, while in 2001, 15
pilots were killed in 27 accidents.
The fleet of MiG variants forms the mainstay of India's air force,
but frequent accidents have raised concerns about its safety and
suitability for young air force pilots.
India's ...