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.