Churu: A Jaguar trainer aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed near Bhanoda village in Rajasthan’s Churu district on Wednesday afternoon, killing both pilots onboard. The crash occurred around 12:40 pm during a routine training mission.
The aircraft went down in an agricultural field, and no damage to civilian property has been reported. Rajaldesar Station House Officer Kamlesh confirmed that human remains were recovered from the crash site. One body was retrieved from the nearby Ratangarh area later in the day.
The IAF confirmed the loss of lives in a statement and expressed deep condolences: “IAF deeply regrets the loss of lives and stands firmly with the bereaved families in this time of grief.” A court of inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident.
Though not located within the Churu district, Suratgarh Air Force Station is one of the nearest airbases to the region. Situated in the town of Suratgarh in Rajasthan, it is a strategically important base of the Indian Air Force, playing a vital role in regional defence operations.
The IAF aircraft took off from Suratgarh air base with two pilots onboard before it crashed in an agricultural field near Bhanoda village on Wednesday. Defence sources confirmed that IAF helicopters were dispatched to the crash site for rescue and recovery operations.
This incident follows a series of similar crashes involving IAF fighter jets in recent months-
- In April, a two-seater Jaguar aircraft crashed shortly after taking off from Jamnagar Airfield during a night training mission. A technical malfunction mid-air forced both pilots to eject. Tragically, pilot Siddharth Yadav died from injuries sustained during ejection, while the other pilot survived with injuries.
- On March 7, another Jaguar fighter jet went down near Ambala, Haryana, but the pilot managed to eject safely.
These repeated crashes have raised safety concerns and highlight the risks faced by IAF pilots during training and operational flights.
