Abhay Verma Says He Is Among ‘Last Few’ to Fly a Real MiG‑21, Calls Fighter Jet a “Flying Bomb”

Former Indian Air Force flight instructor Abhay Verma told reporters that he is among the “last few” pilots who have ever taken off in a genuine MiG‑21, the Soviet‑designed fighter that has served the nation for more than six decades. Verma, who retired after a 30‑year career that included combat sorties and training assignments, described the aircraft as “a flying bomb” due to its aging airframe, outdated avionics and a spate of fatal accidents that have plagued the type in recent years. “When you sit in the cockpit you can feel the metal fatigue, the unreliable systems – it’s a constant gamble,” he said, adding that the jet’s high accident rate has claimed the lives of dozens of Indian pilots since the turn of the millennium.

The Indian Air Force has been steadily de‑commissioning its MiG‑21 fleet, replacing it with indigenously built HAL Tejas light combat aircraft and newer foreign‑made fighters such as the Rafale and the Eurofighter Typhoon. The transition is part of a broader modernization drive aimed at enhancing operational readiness and reducing the risk to aircrew. While the MiG‑21 remains a symbol of the nation’s early jet age, defense officials have acknowledged that maintaining the legacy platform has become increasingly untenable, citing spare‑parts shortages and the prohibitive cost of upgrades.

Verma’s remarks underscore the urgency of the phase‑out, as the Air Force seeks to ensure that its pilots operate aircraft that meet contemporary safety and performance standards. The veteran’s candid assessment is expected to bolster public and parliamentary scrutiny of the remaining MiG‑21s, reinforcing the push for a complete retirement of the aging jets before the next procurement cycle commences.