India's Air Force retires its last MiG-21 fighter jets on Sept. 19, ending a 62-year service legacy.

The Indian Air Force is retiring its last MiG-21 fighter jets on September 19, ending a 62-year service. First inducted in 1963, the MiG-21 played critical roles in conflicts including the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan, the 1999 Kargil conflict, and the 2019 Balakot air strikes. Despite its operational success, the jet was notorious for frequent accidents, leading to its "flying coffin" nickname. The retirement will reduce the IAF's combat squadrons to 29, the lowest since the 1960s, as newer aircraft like the Tejas Mk1A are set to replace them.