Churu (Rajasthan), July 9: A twin-seater Jaguar trainer aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed on Wednesday afternoon in Rajasthan’s Churu district. This marks the third Jaguar-related crash this year.
As per reports, the fighter jet had taken off from the Suratgarh air base and went down in an agricultural field near Bhanoda village around 1:25 PM. The cause of the crash has not yet been determined.
Though the IAF has not released an official statement, visuals from the crash site showed thick plumes of smoke rising from the wreckage as local authorities arrived on the scene. Rescue operations are currently in progress.
Initial reports indicate that two bodies were recovered from the site. One is believed to be the pilot, found in a severely damaged condition. The Army and local administration are working to confirm the identities of the deceased.
Notably, the Jaguar is a deep penetration strike aircraft used by the IAF for ground attack and reconnaissance missions. This marks the third Jaguar aircraft crash in 2025, raising serious concerns about the operational safety of the fleet.
In April, a twin-seater Jaguar crashed shortly after takeoff from Jamnagar Airfield during a night mission. The IAF later confirmed that a technical malfunction occurred mid-flight, forcing both pilots to eject. Tragically, Squadron Leader Siddharth Yadav died from injuries sustained during the ejection, while the second pilot survived with injuries.
Just a month earlier, in March, another Jaguar went down near Ambala, Haryana during a training sortie. The pilot ejected safely, and no casualties were reported. The IAF noted that the pilot had managed to steer the aircraft away from populated areas before ejecting, preventing civilian harm and property damage.
