A twin-seater trainer version of the Indian Air Force’s Jaguar fighter jet crashed on Tuesday near Churu district in Rajasthan, officials confirmed.
The aircraft had taken off from the Suratgarh air base with two pilots on board. Following the crash, IAF helicopters were immediately dispatched to the site for rescue and recovery operations, according to defence sources.
Further details about the condition of the pilots and cause of the crash are awaited.
This is the third Jaguar-related crash in recent months:
- In April, a two-seater Jaguar crashed shortly after takeoff from Jamnagar Airfield during a night mission. One pilot, Siddharth Yadav, lost his life during ejection, while the other was injured.
- On March 7, another Jaguar fighter jet went down near Ambala in Haryana, though the pilot ejected safely.
The repeated incidents involving Jaguars—an ageing fleet in the IAF—have raised concerns over operational safety and aircraft maintenance. An investigation is expected to be launched into the latest crash.