It’s the end of an era for the Indian Air Force (IAF) as the iconic yet infamous MiG-21 fighter jets are finally being retired after more than 60 years in service.
The last two MiG-21 Bison squadrons will fly their final missions and be officially decommissioned on September 19 at a ceremony in Chandigarh, according to The Indian Express.
First inducted in 1963, these Soviet-origin jets were once the pride of the IAF, with over 700 units acquired in different versions. But over time, the MiG-21 became better known for its safety record—or lack of it.
The jet earned the dark nickname “flying coffin” after 400 crashes and the loss of over 100 pilots and civilians. In recent years, incidents like the 2023 Rajasthan crash and the 2019 dogfight with Pakistan—where a MiG-21 was shot down—highlighted its vulnerabilities.
The retirement was long overdue, originally planned by 2022 but delayed as India awaited new aircraft. Now, the homegrown LCA Tejas is expected to fill the gap, marking a fresh chapter for the IAF.
While the MiG-21 leaves behind a mixed legacy of power and tragedy, it remains a symbol of India’s early air power ambitions.