MiG-21 crashes at Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, killing the pilot

On Friday, an Indian Air Force (IAF) MiG-21 aircraft crashed in Jaisalmer (December 24). Wing Commander Harshit Sinha, the plane's pilot, was killed instantly.

Confirming the news of the incident IAF on Twitter wrote: "With deep sorrow, IAF conveys the sad demise of Wing Commander Harshit Sinha in the flying accident this evening and stands firmly with the family of the braveheart"

Earlier in another tweet, the IAF stated, "This evening, around 8:30 pm, a MiG-21 aircraft of IAF met with a flying accident in the western sector during a training sortie. Further details are awaited. An inquiry is being ordered."

According to Jaisalmer SP Ajay Singh, the jet crashed in the Desert National Park region under the Sam police station.

Local police, according to the SP, arrived on the scene. The jet crashed in sand dunes near Sudasari, according to SHO Dalpat Singh of the Sam police station.

Meanwhile, an eyewitness said he witnessed the jet burst into flames while living in a hamlet near the Desert National Park. He said that the jet caught fire before it crashed.

Ashish Modi, the collector of Jaisalmer, and Superintendent of Police Ajay Singh arrived at the scene.