An Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter jet crashed in Rajasthan’s Barmer district on Thursday night leaving both the pilots killed.

The MIG-21 aircraft crashed near Bhimda village in Baytoo, media reports said.

“A twin seater Mig-21 trainer aircraft of the IAF was airborne for a training sortie from Utarlai air base in Rajasthan this evening. Around 9:10 pm, the aircraft met with an accident near Barmer. Both pilots sustained fatal injuries,” the Air Force said in a statement.

“IAF deeply regrets the loss of lives and stands firmly with the bereaved families,”it further said.

A court of Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident, it said.

The MiG-21 is a Soviet-era single-engine multirole fighter/ground attack aircraft that forms the backbone of its fleet, the IAF said.