IAF Jaguar trainer aircraft crashes in Rajasthan's Churu, both pilots dead

The Indian Air Force said that a court of inquiry has been constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident

A twin-seater Jaguar trainer aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed near Churu district of Rajasthan on Wednesday. Both the pilots were killed, the Air Force confirmed. 

 

The aircraft crashed in the Ratangarh town of the district, following which the local police were sent there.

 

"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. IAF deeply regrets the loss of lives and stands firmly with the bereaved families in this time of grief," the IAF said in a post on X. 

 

It further added that a court of inquiry has been constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident.

 

  Fire brigade and ambulance rushed to the spot after the accident, PTI reported.  

Third Jaguar crash in 4 months

A Jaguar fighter plane crashed in the Jamnagar district of Gujarat on April 2 during a night mission, killing one of the pilots and injuring the other. Another aircraft crashed on March 7 in Haryana's Panchkula district. The pilot from this aircraft ejected safely.  

The Jaguar is a twin-engine, ground-attack aircraft originally developed by a British-French collaboration and later produced under licence in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Known for its low-level strike capability, the Jaguar has been a part of the IAF fleet since 1979. Despite being decades old, the aircraft continues to be operated in an upgraded form with modern systems.