ITS NOT mine words its your media reporting it since late 1990s .
Why are MiGs flying coffins for IAF pilots?
In the IAF, pilots literally dread flying the MiG machines. Because, as many as 482 MiG-21s had been involved in accidents and as many as 171 pilots, 39 civilians and eight persons from other services lost their lives in these accidents in the last 40 years.
In this way, the Indian Air Force has lost more than half of its total fleet of 872 MiG aircraft.
http://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/why-are-migs-flying-coffins-for-iaf-pilots-25135.html
Mig-21 crash: No replacement for the ‘Flying coffin’ in near future
Historically, Mig-21 fighters have had a poor track record when it comes to flight safety. Due to its poor safety record, the Russian-origin fighter aircraft has been given the tag, “Flying Coffin” in popular discourse. As per official records, more than 170 IAF pilots have been killed in MIG-21 accidents since 1970.
http://indianexpress.com/article/ex...acement-for-the-flying-coffin-in-near-future/