IAF Jaguar Jet Crashes In Rajasthan, Both Pilots Killed; 3rd Crash In 5 Months
An Indian Air Force (IAF) Jaguar fighter jet crashed in Rajasthan’s Churu district on Wednesday afternoon, killing both pilots on board. The tragic incident marks the third crash involving the ageing Jaguar fleet in the last five months and the fifth IAF aircraft accident this year.
The twin-seater trainer aircraft was on a routine training mission when it went down in an agricultural field in Bhanuda village around 1:25 PM, officials said.
The IAF confirmed the crash and the fatalities in a statement. “An IAF Jaguar Trainer aircraft met with an accident during a routine training mission and crashed near Churu in Rajasthan, today. Both pilots sustained fatal injuries in the accident. No damage to any civil property has been reported,” the statement read.
The Air Force has constituted a Court of Inquiry to ascertain the cause of the accident. “IAF deeply regrets the loss of lives and stands firmly with the bereaved families in this time of grief,” the statement added.
Local police and district administration officials rushed to the crash site, where wreckage was found scattered across a field. Eyewitnesses from the village reported hearing a loud explosion before seeing flames and smoke rising from the area.
This incident has once again put a spotlight on the safety record of the IAF’s fleet. It is the third crash involving a Jaguar aircraft since March this year. On March 7, a Jaguar crashed in Ambala, though the pilot ejected safely. On April 2, another Jaguar trainer went down near Jamnagar in Gujarat, killing one of the two pilots.
The IAF currently operates six squadrons of the Jaguar deep-penetration strike aircraft, which were first inducted in the late 1970s and are now undergoing upgrades to extend their service life. While the Defence Ministry has noted a decline in the accident rate over the years due to corrective measures, the frequency of crashes remains a significant concern.
