Two pilots of the Serbian Air Force’s sole MiG-21 fighter died when the aircraft crashed on Friday in the vicinity of Mali Zvornik, in the country’s west.
The crash occurred during a regular training flight, the Serbian defense ministry said.
It was added that the aircraft had been inspected prior to the flight and was cleared for flight with no technical defects detected. Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic stressed that the MiG-21 was in no way related to aircraft refits carried out in Russia, adding that another ten MiG-29 aircraft remain in air force service.
The MiG-21 that crashed was the sole in its class still flying and was used in training missions. It was acquired in 1986 and overhauled in 2016. After the refit, it was certified to fly until 2026.
Former Yugoslavia acquired over 250 Soviet-designed MiG-21 aircraft between 1962 and 1986.
The Serbian defense ministry has launched an investigation into the cause of the crash.
