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Indian Pilot, Russian Jet & French Aircraft: How IAF’s MiG-21 Shot Down Pakistan’s ‘Intruding’ Plane That Killed 16 Crew Members

The Soviet-era MiG-21 is the oldest-serving aircraft in the Indian Air Force arsenal. Since 1963, the MiG-21 has demonstrated its worth by providing critical air support, displaying its might against adversaries, and defending India’s skies.

However, aviation technology advanced significantly over time, leading to the need for upgrading the MiG-21. Although modern avionics and armaments were added to the MiG-21 through the Bison upgrade starting in 2001, the airframe remains decades old and cannot be continuously upgraded.

In particular, the safety of the MiG-21 aircraft has been a subject of debate due to numerous accidents over the years. These incidents have led to the aircraft being called the ‘flying coffin’ and ‘Widow Maker,’ reflecting concerns about its safety issues. 

The MiG-21 aircraft has served as the backbone of the Indian Air Force (IAF) for a long time. After being introduced in the 1960s, over 870 MiG-21 fighters were acquired by the IAF to enhance its combat capabilities. 

The aircraft’s safety record has been marred by approximately 400 crashes over the past six decades. Presently, the IAF operates three MiG-21 squadrons with around 50 aircraft. 




IAF MiG 21
IAF MiG 21

The IAF has finalized a three-year timeline to phase out the remaining MiG-21 fighter squadrons to transition to more modern platforms. 

How IAF MiG-21 Shot Down Pakistan’s Recon Aircraft

The MiG-21 played a significant role in neutralizing numerous threats from enemy nations throughout its extensive operational service. In the 1980s and 1990s, updated variants of the MiG-21 served as the backbone of the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) fleet. 

Notably, the MiG-21BIS T-75 and the MiG-21 T-96 were extensively utilized during the Indo-Pakistan Kargil conflict in 1999. These aircraft carried out high-altitude rocket and bomb attacks against intruding Pakistan Army forces and conducted escort and combat air patrol (CAP) missions over the battlefield.

Just a month after the Kargil conflict, the MiG-21 proved its worth again when it intercepted a Pakistani aircraft, Flight Atlantic-91, reportedly intruding into Indian airspace.

On the morning of August 10, 1999, at precisely 10:51 am, the ground radars of the Indian Air Force (IAF) detected an aircraft on a specific flight path near Badin, a region located inside the Sindh province of Pakistan. Badin lies near the Indo-Pakistan international border (IB).

With its trajectory fixed on a south-easterly course, the aircraft was steadily approaching the IB between India and Pakistan. The IAF’s ground radar systems closely monitored its movement as it neared the border area. 



A Pakistan Navy Br1150 Atlantic [40] operated by the 29 Squadron. One such aircraft was written off on August 10, 1999.

The Pakistani aircraft then reportedly breached Indian airspace on two separate occasions and was alleged to have violated the 1991 air agreement between India and Pakistan.

According to the agreement, all aircraft (excluding helicopters) from both countries must maintain a minimum distance of 10 kilometers from the border.

In response, the Indian Air Force (IAF) quickly mobilized its MiG-21s. The aircraft were scrambled at 10:57 am and were airborne by 10:59 am. 

At the time, Squadron Leader Prashant Bundela was piloting one of the MiG-21s deployed by the Indian Air Force (IAF). As the Indian Air Force pilot approached the alleged intruder aircraft, they could get close enough to confirm its identity visually. The intruder aircraft was identified as a French-built Atlantique with the Pakistan Navy insignia.

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