Article Posted on : - Dec 03, 2009

The MiG-29 fighters in IAF's arsenal. Image credit: IAF

NEW DELHI (PTI): Indian Air Force has lost a total of 265 MiG series fighter aircraft in crashes in the past two decades which have claimed the lives of 96 personnel and 44 civilians.

�In the last two decades since April 1989 and up to November 26, 2009, 265 MiG fighter aircraft of the IAF have crashed and a total of 96 services personnel and 44 civilians were killed,� Defence Minister A K Antony said in a written reply to a Rajya Sabha query on Wednesday.

The IAF has lost three each MiG 21s and 27s in different accidents along with two Russian-origin Su-30MKIs air superiority aircraft in the last eight months of 2009.

Antony said that each of these accidents was investigated through a Court of Inquiry and remedial measures were taken.