The Indian Air Force formally retired the MiG 21 today, closing a chapter that spanned roughly six decades. Air Chief Marshal A P Singh took the type on its final sortie in a MiG 21 Bison that carried the call sign ‘Cloud 3’, marking the end of frontline service for an aircraft long described as both an icon and a liability.
Once regarded as the backbone of India’s combat fleet, the MiG 21 fleet accumulated a troubled safety record over the years. Of roughly 876 aircraft that served with Indian units, some 490 were lost in accidents. Official and media accounts attribute the deaths of more than 200 Indian pilots and over 60 civilians to those incidents, a legacy that earned the type the grim nickname ‘flying coffin’ among aviators.
The aircraft’s retirement also reignites memories of international incidents involving the MiG 21. The type drew global attention in 2019 when an Indian MiG 21 was downed in Pakistani airspace during the events surrounding Operation Swift Retort, leading to the capture of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman and intense regional scrutiny of the platform.
The decision to retire the MiG 21 reflects longstanding concerns about safety and airworthiness even as the type served multiple generations of pilots. For many families and veterans, the withdrawal of the MiG 21 is the close of a complex legacy that mixes operational achievement with tragic loss. The Indian Air Force now looks to more modern aircraft to fill roles the MiG 21 performed for decades while acknowledging the lessons learned from its service history.
