IAF lost 20 aircraft over last 3 years

India’s air force has lost as many as 20 aircraft, including three of its frontline Su-30 fighters, in crashes over the last three years according to the country’s defence minister, the Press Trust of India reported on Friday.

Two air force personnel were killed and as many civilians were injured in the accidents, Manohar Parrikar told the Lok Sabha, the lower house of India’s parliament. The majority of these crashes took place in 2014-2015, he said in his written reply. Nine aircraft — four MiGs, two Jaguars and one Su-30 — crashed during that period.

"The main reasons for the crashes were technical defect and human error," the minister said.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 25^th, 2015.