A tragic crash of a Jaguar fighter jet in Rajasthan’s Churu district on Wednesday claimed the lives of two Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots. The aircraft was on a routine training mission when it went down around midday, prompting an immediate response from local authorities and the IAF.
Fatal Training Mission
According to an official IAF statement on X (formerly Twitter), the Jaguar Trainer aircraft “met with an accident near Churu during a routine training mission.” Both pilots onboard suffered fatal injuries. The IAF expressed deep sorrow over the incident and assured full support to the bereaved families.
No civilian casualties or property damage was reported, though eyewitnesses described a large fireball and scattered wreckage in the agricultural fields near Rajaldesar.
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Rescue and Inquiry Underway
The crash occurred around 12:30pm, as confirmed by Churu Superintendent of Police Jai Yadav. SHO Kamlesh from Rajaldesar Police Station added that human remains were recovered near the site. The aircraft had taken off from Suratgarh airbase earlier that day.
Rescue and investigation teams quickly arrived to secure the area. The IAF has ordered a court of inquiry to determine the exact cause of the crash.
Past Incidents Raise Safety Concerns
This is not the first such incident involving the IAF in recent years. In May, India’s Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan admitted that Pakistani forces had downed Indian fighter jets during a brief conflict earlier that month.
Earlier in April, an IAF aircraft caused property damage in Madhya Pradesh’s Shivpuri district after accidentally releasing a non-explosive aerial store mid-flight. In March last year, a Tejas light combat aircraft—India’s indigenous fighter—crashed in Rajasthan, marking the first such loss since its induction.
Push for Indigenous Production
The crash adds to concerns surrounding India’s military aviation safety, especially as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government continues its push for locally manufactured defense equipment. Despite efforts to reduce dependency on foreign imports, such incidents underline the urgent need to review training protocols, aircraft maintenance, and quality control in India’s defense programs.
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