NEW DELHI, May 21 (Xinhua) -- An Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot was killed after a MiG-21 fighter plane crashed in India's northern state of Punjab, local media reported on Friday.

An Indian Air Force MIG-21 aircraft Dornier flies during the inaugural day of the five-day Aero India 2019 airshow at the Yelahanka Air Force station, in Bangalore on February 20, 2019. (File photo: AFP)

The mishap occurred late on Thursday night when the aircraft was on a routine training sortie. Reports said the pilot sustained fatal injuries.

"There was an aircraft accident last night involving a MiG-21 Bison aircraft of IAF in the western sector. IAF condoles the tragic loss and stands firmly with the bereaved family," said the IAF.

According to media reports, this was the third crash of a MiG-21 aircraft this year.