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Two IAF pilots killed as Jaguar aircraft crashes in Rajasthan’s Churu
A Jaguar trainer aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed in Rajasthan's Churu district during a training mission, killing both pilots.
A Jaguar trainer aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed during a routine training mission in Rajasthan's Churu district on Wednesday afternoon, resulting in the death of both pilots on board.
“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 IAF said in a statement.
“IAF deeply regrets the loss of lives and stands firmly with the bereaved families in this time of grief,” the IAF said, adding that a court of inquiry has been constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident.
The aircraft crashed in an agriculture field in Bhanoda village around 1.25 pm, SHO Rajaldesar Kamlessh told news agency PTI.
Past crashes
Three months earlier, in April, a similar incident occurred when a two-seater Jaguar aircraft belonging to the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed shortly after taking off from Jamnagar Airfield during a night mission.
The IAF reported that the pilots experienced a technical malfunction mid-flight and ejected in an effort to prevent damage to the airfield and surrounding populated areas.
Tragically, one of the pilots, Siddharth Yadav, succumbed to injuries sustained during the ejection, while the other pilot sustained injuries in the incident.
In March 2025, an Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter jet crashed in the Panchkula district of Haryana during a routine training sortie on a Friday.
The IAF reported that the pilot experienced a system malfunction and successfully steered the aircraft away from populated areas before ejecting safely.
"The pilot manoeuvred the aircraft away from any habitation on the ground before ejecting safely. An inquiry has been ordered by the IAF to ascertain the cause of the accident," the air force stated.
In February, a twin-seater Mirage 2000 crashed near Shivpuri in Madhya Pradesh during a routine training sortie. Both pilots managed to eject safely before the crash.
In another incident in November 2024, a MiG-29 fighter jet crashed into a field near Agra, Uttar Pradesh, due to a technical fault during a training sortie. The pilot safely ejected in that case as well.
