On Tuesday, an MiG-21 fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed in Bijbehara area of Anantnag district in Kashmir while on a routine training sortie, killing the young pilot. India started using the Soviet-designed plane in 1963, but since 1970, 170 pilots and 40 civilians have been killed in accidents involving the aircraft series.

Despite this, MiGs form an important part of the IAF fleet. They can also be found on the tarmacs of other airforces around the world.

Here's a documentary on the men who created the fighter plane during World War II.