Churu, Rajasthan: A tragic air accident struck the Indian Air Force (IAF) today as a Jaguar fighter trainer aircraft crashed during a routine training sortie near Bhanoda village in Rajasthan’s Churu district, killing both pilots on board.
The aircraft took off from the Suratgarh airbase and went down in an agricultural field around 1:25 PM. Local police confirmed the crash site was located near Bhanoda village, sparking panic among villagers who witnessed the fiery impact.
In an official statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), the IAF said:
“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.”
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…
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) July 9, 2025
This marks the third Jaguar crash this year, raising concerns about the aging fleet’s operational viability. In April, a Jaguar crashed in Gujarat, claiming the life of one pilot, while another incident occurred in Haryana in March.
The Jaguar aircraft, initially introduced in 1968 as a joint venture between the British Aircraft Corporation and France’s Breguet Aviation, was designed as a supersonic trainer and ground attack aircraft. Despite its long service record, today’s tragedy underscores the growing risks associated with operating decades-old jets in modern aerial warfare scenarios.
A Court of Inquiry has been ordered to determine the cause of the crash.
