The Indian Air Force (IAF) has grounded its entire fleet of MiG-21 fighter jets till an inquiry into the cause of the crash in Rajasthan earlier this month. A MiG-21 Bison aircraft that took off from the Suratgarh airbase had crashed over Hanumangarh in Rajasthan on May 8, killing three people.

Defense Department officials said, "The MiG-21 fleet has been grounded till the investigation is completed and the cause of the accident is ascertained." According to officials, only three MiG-21 squadrons are currently operational in the IAF and all of them will be phased out by early 2025."

The Indian Air Force has 31 fighter aircraft squadrons, of which three are the MiG-21 Bison variant. The MiG-21 was inducted into the Indian Air Force in the 1960s and over 800 variants of the fighter have been in service.