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KOCHI: Stranded at sea, with no food and no land at sight, 40-year-old Ranjumoni Sonowal kept on swimming for 36 hours clinging on to two plastic cans. By the time Indian Coast Guard ship Arnvesh found him, Ranjumoni was weak and dehydrated. Ranjumoni, a fisherman employed by Tamil Nadu-registered mechanised fishing vessel 'Zion', went missing late on March 30 night when the vessel was returning.The incident happened nearly 27km off the Kochi coast. The boat workers informed Maritime Rescue Co ...Read More >
Chennai: Black Box Recovered of Pilatus PC-7 MK-II From Crash Site Near Tiruporur Sunday, November 16, 2025 by Indian Defence News The recovery operations at the crash site near Tiruporur took a significant step forward on Saturday morning when Air Force engineers located and retrieved the black box of the Indian Air Force (IAF) training aircraft that went down the previous afternoon. The device, buried under nearly ten feet of thick slush, was recovered after several hours of meticulous diggi ...Read More >
A routine training sortie turned into an emergency on Thursday when an Indian Air Force basic trainer aircraft crashed near Tambaram in Chennai. The sole pilot on board ejected moments before the aircraft went down and is reported to be safe, according to officials. The aircraft involved was a PC-7 Pilatus, which forms the backbone of beginner flight training for Air Force cadets. Local authorities and IAF emergency teams reached the spot quickly after the crash was reported, carrying out stan ...Read More >
CHANDIGARH: President Droupadi Murmu will visit Air force station Ambala on Wednesday and will take a sortie in Rafale aircraft. This is for the second time that the president will take sortie in a fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF). In view of her visit to the Ambala air base, which is one of the crucial operational air bases of the IAF, massive security arrangements have been made. She will be coming via military aircraft and will land at the Ambala airbase. She was schedule to vis ...Read More >
Nasik: Defence minister Rajnath Singh lauded wing commander Nikhil Kumar Rath from Odisha's Balangir, a fighter pilot with the IAF, after the first public sortie of indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1A aircraft manufactured at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's (HAL) Nashik facility. The inaugural Tejas Mk1A sortie of around 35 minutes was piloted by Group Captain KK Venugopal and Wing Commander Pratyush Awasthi, followed by aerial displays by Su-30MKI and HTT-40 aircraft, with the Tejas re ...Read More >
India's Russian-built MiG-21s flew for the final time Friday, marking the end of an era for the country's first supersonic fighter jet -- lauded for its valour but tarnished by a legacy of some 400 crashes. Crowds cheered as officials staged a grand farewell for the final two MiG-21 squadrons, totalling around 36 aircraft, at an air force base in the northern city of Chandigarh. The send-off came a day after New Delhi signed a $7-billion deal to acquire 97 domestically designed and built Tejas ...Read More >
Chandigarh, Sep 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) Recalling how the Soviet-era fighter MiG-21 proved its mettle in multiple theatres of war and conflict, including its presence in the Operation Sindoor, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said its legacy will live on in India's pursuit of Aatmanirbharta in defence. "The aircraft symbolises the continuity of courage, discipline and patriotism that will inspire the development of indigenous platforms such as LCA-Tejas and the upcoming Advanced Medium Comb ...Read More >
NEW DELHI -- India retired its last fleet of Soviet-era MiG-21 fighter jets on Friday, ending more than six decades of service with an aircraft once celebrated for its combat prowess but later derided as a "flying coffin" due to frequent crashes. The phaseout underscores the urgency for the Indian air force to expand and modernize its air fleet to counter potential threats on two fronts from archrivals China and Pakistan. The decommissioning leaves the air force with 29 fighter squadrons, well ...Read More >
Chandigarh, Sep 26 (PTI) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said the MiG-21 is not only an aircraft or a machine but a national pride, and a testimony to the deep ties between India and Russia. Noting that the over 60-year-old journey of the MiG-21 is unmatched, he said the mighty machine picked up the burden of the country's security on its wings for decades, and shaped "our confidence and strengthened our strategy". The defence minister was addressed a gathering at the decommissioning ...Read More >
Chandigarh [India], September 26 (ANI): Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla on Friday said that the final farewell for the MiG21 was a befitting and dignified one and that he has fond memories of the iconic fighter aircraft with whom he had spent a "considerable amount of time." The astronaut was among those who witnessed the final flight of the iconic fighter jet at the Chandigarh Air Force base today. Speaking to ANI, Shukla said "I am happy to be here... I have spent a lot of time here and have ...Read More >
NEW DELHI (AP) -- India retired its last fleet of Soviet-era MiG-21 fighter jets Friday, ending more than six decades of service with an aircraft once celebrated for its combat prowess but later derided as a "flying coffin" due to frequent crashes. The phaseout underscores the urgency for the Indian air force to expand and modernize its air fleet to counter potential threats on two fronts from its archrivals China and Pakistan. The decommissioning leaves the air force with 29 fighter squadrons ...Read More >
NEW DELHI (AP) -- India retired its last fleet of Soviet-era MiG-21 fighter jets Friday, ending more than six decades of service with an aircraft once celebrated for its combat prowess but later derided as a "flying coffin" due to frequent crashes. The phaseout underscores the urgency for the Indian air force to expand and modernize its air fleet to counter potential threats on two fronts from its archrivals China and Pakistan. The decommissioning leaves the air force with 29 fighter squadrons ...Read More >
Chandigarh [India], September 26 (ANI): After nearly six decades of service, the Indian Air Force on Friday retired its iconic MiG-21 fighter jet, which took its final sortie in a decommissioning ceremony held in Chandigarh in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The MiG-21 has long been the backbone of India's aerial might, representing the courage, precision, and resilience of generations of Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots. Also Read | Manmohan Singh Birth Anniversary 2025: Rahul Ga ...Read More >
CHANDIGARH: In the MiG-21 cockpit, man and machine became one. Metal and sinew fused to create a warbird that punched above its weight -- like an ageing prize-fighter.Hear this from the pilot who has 4,306 hours on the MiG-21 -- more than anyone else in the world.On Friday, as the Indian Air Force formally retires the legendary warhorse, Air Commodore SS Tyagi (Retd) will be there to witness the final flight in Chandigarh.Air Commodore Tyagi (Retd) flew 6,316 sorties on the MiG-21 during his ser ...Read More >
Chandigarh, September 26: It will be a memorable and emotional reunion in Chandigarh, the City Beautiful, where its first squadron was commissioned in 1963, on Friday, as the skies will roar to give 'final salute' to the Russian-made MiG-21 that was inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF) almost six decades ago. It will be a memorable but emotional reunion in Chandigarh, the City Beautiful, where its first squadron was commissioned in 1963, on Friday, as the skies will roar to give 'final salut ...Read More >
Vanity vans lined up on the tarmac and film crew with cameras waited for that perfect frame to capture MiG-21 jets roaring across the skies of Bikaner Nal Air Force Station for the shooting of upcoming Bollywood movie Love And War. IMAGE: File image of a MiG-21 fighter jet. Photograph: ANI Photo/IAF The moment marked the jet's last operational flight ahead of its retirement next month. The airbase doubled up as a set for the Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed film where the MiG-21 will play a dec ...Read More >
Bikaner, Aug 26 (PTI) Vanity vans lined up on the tarmac and film crew with cameras waited for that perfect frame to capture MiG-21 jets roaring across the skies of Bikaner Nal Air Force Station for the shooting of upcoming Bollywood movie "Love And War". The moment marked the jet's last operational flight ahead of its retirement next month. The airbase doubled up as a set for the Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed film where the MiG-21 will play a decisive role. "Love And War" stars Ranbir Kapoor, ...Read More >
India clears the acquisition of 97 LCA Mark 1A fighter jets for the Indian Air Force In a major boost to the 'Make in India' initiative in defence, the central government has cleared a Rs 62,000 crore deal to buy 97 LCA Tejas Mark 1A fighter jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The final approval was given during a high-level meeting on Tuesday, paving the way for Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to begin production. This is the second major order for the indigenous fighter jet. Earlier, t ...Read More >
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], August 6 (ANI): The Indian Air Force (IAF) has initiated a joint rescue and relief operation in response to a cloudburst-triggered flash flood in Uttarkashi's Harsil, which has left the region isolated, the IAF said in a statement on Wednesday. According to the Indian Air Force, Mi-17 helicopters and ALH Mk-III aircraft stationed at Bareilly have been placed on high alert. Additionally, An-32 and C-295 transport aircraft from Agra have landed in Dehradun to suppo ...Read More >
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], August 6 (ANI): The Indian Air Force (IAF) has initiated a joint rescue and relief operation in response to a cloudburst-triggered flash flood in Uttarkashi Harsil, which has left the region isolated, the IAF said in a statement on Wednesday. According to the Indian Air Force, Mi-17 helicopters and ALH Mk-III aircraft stationed at Bareilly have been placed on high alert. Additionally, An-32 and C-295 transport aircraft from Agra have landed in Dehradun to support ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], July 6 (ANI): British F-35B fighter jet, stuck at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport for nearly three weeks was towed to the Air India hanger on Sunday after a technical team arrived from the UK to assess any damage to the aircraft and attempt to take the aircraft back, according to Defence sources. British Royal Air Force's Airbus A400M Atlas also took off from Kerala's airport after dropping off a technical team of experts to assess the aircraft. Ea ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], July 6 (ANI): British F-35B fighter jet, stuck at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport for nearly three weeks was towed to the Air India hanger on Sunday after a technical team arrived from the UK to assess any damage to the aircraft and attempt to take the aircraft back, according to Defence sources. British Royal Air Force's Airbus A400M Atlas also took off from Kerala's airport after dropping off a technical team of experts to assess the aircraft. Ea ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], July 6 (ANI): British F-35B fighter jet, stuck at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport for nearly three weeks was towed to the Air India hanger on Sunday after a technical team arrived from the UK to assess any damage to the aircraft and attempt to take the aircraft back, according to Defence sources. British Royal Air Force's Airbus A400M Atlas also took off from Kerala's airport after dropping off a technical team of experts to assess the aircraft. Al ...Read More >
New Delhi, July 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) A UK F-35B Lightning II fighter jet that made an emergency landing at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport nearly three weeks ago, is now set to be moved for repairs, as a UK engineering team has arrived arrived in India to undertake the complex task. According to sources, more than a dozen technicians are a part of this crucial repair-work mission. Confirming this development, a British High Commission spokesperson said, "A UK engineering team has de ...Read More >
DELHI -- A state-of-the-art British fighter jet stuck at an airport in India for nearly three weeks now has sparked curiosity and raised questions about how such a modern aircraft could get stranded for days in a foreign country. The F-35B landed at Thiruvananthapuram airport in the southern state of Kerala on 14 June. The aircraft was diverted there after it ran into bad weather during a sortie in the Indian ocean and was unable to return to HMS Prince of Wales, the Royal Navy's flagship carr ...Read More >
Gangtok: The Sikkim government has arranged a special helicopter sortie for their immediate air evacuation in response to requests made by stranded locals, tourist taxi drivers, and certain government officials stationed at the Chaten area. The operation comes as part of the ongoing coordinated relief and evacuation efforts being undertaken in view of recent adverse conditions that have disrupted normal road connectivity and access to the region. The helicopter sortie began this morning from t ...Read More >
Gangtok, Jun 8 (PTI) At least 28 people, stranded at Chaten in north Sikkim, and 20 army personnel were airlifted on Sunday as the road connectivity in the region had been snapped due to multiple landslides triggered by heavy rain, officials said. A chopper evacuated 28 civilians, comprising minors, tourist taxi drivers and government officials, from Chaten in the first sortie, while 20 army personnel returned to Pakyong Greenfield Airport in another trip, they said. The MI-17 helicopter also ...Read More >
Gangtok (Sikkim) [India], June 8 (ANI): The Sikkim government has arranged a special helicopter sortie for their immediate air evacuation in response to requests made by stranded locals, tourist taxi drivers, and certain government officials stationed at the Chaten area. The operation comes as part of the ongoing coordinated relief and evacuation efforts being undertaken in view of recent adverse conditions that have disrupted normal road connectivity and access to the region. Also Read | Ekna ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 6 (PTI) An Apache helicopter of the Indian Air Force (IAF) made a "precautionary landing" in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur on Friday due to a technical issue while on a routine sortie, officials said. Both the pilot and the co-pilot are safe, they said. An IAF Apache helicopter made a "precautionary landing" in Saharanpur around 11 am due to a technical issue, a senior IAF official said. All necessary checks were conducted after the landing and the helicopter was made serviceable. ...Read More >
Saharanpur: An Indian Air Force Apache attack helicopter made an emergency landing during a routine sortie near Saharanpur on Friday. The pilots had to land the chopper at an open field in an area under Chilkana police station after it developed a technical snag. Both the pilots are safe. As soon as the information of the incident was received, Army and police officials reached the spot. SP, Rural Sagar Jain said no damage was caused and no casualties reported in the incident. However, it is n ...Read More >
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