M A I N   N E W S

MiG-21: pilots’ families seek President’s intervention

Mumbai, July 25
Members of families of pilots killed in MiG-21 crashes have sought an appointment with President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to request his intervention in the issue of the frequent crashes of these fighter planes and prevent further loss of lives.

A day after Defence Minister George Fernandes announced in Parliament that he intended to fly in a MiG 21, the families came together under the banner of the Abhijit Air Safety Foundation and sent a letter to the President, seeking an interview with him on August 5.

Wing Commander Anil Gadgil (retd), his wife Kavita and son Kedar told mediapersons here that as the President was an aeronautical and missile scientist and the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, they had decided to meet him.

“We would like to discuss the issue of frequent MiG 21 crashes and seek his intervention and direction in this regard,’’ they said.

The Gadgils lost their son, Flight Lieutenant Abhijit Gadgil, in a MiG-21 crash on September 17, 2001 when he was leading a formation on a dark night from Suratgarh to Bikaner.

Abhijit’s mother Kavita, teaching military orientation to students for the past 10 years, pointed out that the last 35 months had seen 30 accidents involving MiG-21s and 17 pilots had died with one aircraft and two pilots missing.

Nine civilians had been killed in these accidents, she said.

Mr Fernandes, who recently flew a sortie on the Russian-origin Sukhoi fighter aircraft, would be in Mumbai tomorrow in connection with a felicitation function organised by several Karnataka associations for his role in the development of the Konkan region.

An emotionally charged Ms Gadgil said flight training should be in six-axis flight simulator and advanced jet trainers should be acquired at the earliest.

“The Defence Minister should look at important issues rather than undertake joy rides,’’ she said, adding that the family had nothing against the Defence Minister, but were fighting against the system.

“In this regard, our Defence Minister’s recent statements about the acquisition of advanced jet trainers were disturbing. In spite of the instances of MiG-21 crashes, it was shocking to learn that the Defence Ministry returned Rs 9,000 crore unspent. The Defence Minister seems to defend his position by blaming it on Tehelka,’’ the foundation said in a pressnote.

“The soldier does not get his new equipment, the sailor is without his new sails and young fighter pilots in old MiGs have to die without a war and a cause,’’ they said, pointing out that three or four successive retired Air chiefs had stated in the media that the lack of advanced jet trainers for the past decade was a major contributory factor in pilot error verdict in many MiG-21 crashes. — UNI

The three main causes of accidents cited by the IAF were human error (mostly pilot error), technical failure or major technical deficiencies and adverse environment conditions like weather, bird-hits and ATC.

The Gadgils alleged that MiG-21s were fitted with primitive flight data recorders, leaving little hard evidence for accident investigation

In most cases, they said, it was only the pilot who could be able to depose or give any evidence or enumerate the sequence leading to the accident, but as most of the time he was killed in the mishap, these details were never known. — UNI