Q. No. 1759 Crashes of MIG fighter jets

Question: Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to satate :-

(a) whether it is a fact that the MIG fighters of the Indian Air Force have been often involved in accidents / crashes during the last few years;

(b) if so, the details of the MIG crashes including loss of life during the last five years; and

(c) what steps are taken by the Ministry to ensure the safety and security of the defence personnel manning the MIG fighter jets and to keep up the defence preparedness of the MIG fleet?

Answer: Minister of Defence (Shri A.K. Antony)

(a) & (b): During the last five years (2007-08 to 2011-12) and current year 2012-13 (up to 07.03.2013), a total of 34 MIG fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) have been involved in accidents / crashes. Technical Defect and Human Error were the two main causes of the accidents. In these accidents, six pilots and five civilians were killed.

(c) Every IAF aircraft accident is thoroughly investigated by a Court of Inquiry (CoI) to ascertain the cause of accident and remedial measures are taken accordingly to check their recurrence. IAF has taken various measures relating to invigoration of aviation safety organization, analytical studies and quality audits of the aircraft fleets to identify vulnerable areas and institute remedial measures to reduce aircrafts accidents, including establishment of a Ornithology cell for bird surveys at flying bases. All flying bases have been visited by senior Aerospace Safety personnel of the IAF to apprise the operating units suitably and get views for enhancing aviation safety. Accident prevention programmes have been revitalized, including steps to train pilots to prevent accidents due to human error which includes increased use of simulators. Aviation Psychology and Aerospace Safety capsules have been introduced in the ab initio training programmes.