New Delhi, Sep 10 (Inditop.com) An Indian Air Force (IAF) MiG-21 fighter crashed at Bathinda air base in Punjab Thursday, killing its pilot, an official said.

The aircraft apparently lost power while taking off from Bathinda air base but the pilot could not eject in time, the official added.

The pilot’s identity is being withheld till his family is first notified, the official said.

The crash is the seventh accident suffered by the IAF this year.

The IAF had lost a Kiran MK-II trainer aircraft of the Surya Kiran aerobatic team in January, a Sukhoi SU-30MKI in April, a MiG-27 and a MiG-21 Bison in May, and an AN-32 transport and a MiG-21 trainer in June.