As the MIG-27 is a ground attack aircraft, the odds of a mishap are high, regardless of the material condition of the aircraft, so I'm not so sure that this case can be ascribed to failure of the plane itself without specific information not found in the article.  However, if the engine did fail at low level, then the critical time factor would certainly play a part in the survival of the pilot, particularly if the wings were swept back during an attack run.  I have read that the direct ancestor to the MIG-27, the MIG-23 was equipped with a brutal rocket-powered ejector seat, and that pilots wishing to avoid spinal injury would attempt to crash-land rather than punching out whenever possible.  If the MIG-27 was similarly equipped, then those few seconds of hesitation may have sealed the fate of the unfortunate pilot in this case.

 

     Regardless of the condition of the MIG-27, India would do well in retiring them as quickly as possible.  The Swing-wing, Soviet era warplane is hopelessly obsolete and vulnerable to ground fire to the point where sending them into actual combat would be a virtual suicide mission in the face of modern anti-aircraft systems wielded by their likely opponents in China or Pakistan.  Pouring money into maintaining their current fleet would be better spent buying new or near new aircraft like the F/A-18 Hornet or the Panavia Tornado.  In addition to being much more survivable in combat, these aircraft are also easier to maintain, with simpler engines, when compared with 60's-era planes like the MIG-27.  One F/A-18 is worth at least two MIG-27's when you look at combat effectiveness, bomb accuracy and survivability over the modern battlefield, which means India could also afford to train fewer pilots, and when it comes to cost, the pilot is the most expensive and least disposable part of any combat aircraft.  And, if India had been operating F/A 18's that day, then they might still have the experience of one more squadron leader to draw upon in an emergency.

 

     

Great post. Rather conservative math there... such factors tend to multiply with each other rather than add up but I'm sure you knew.

Thanks!