Two IAF pilots killed as Jaguar jet crashes in Rajasthan's Churu
By Ashok Singh Shekhawat
JHUNJHUNU: Two Indian Air Force pilots were killed after a Jaguar trainer aircraft crashed during a routine training mission near Bhanuda village in Rajasthan's Churu district on Wednesday afternoon, reports Ashok Singh Shekhawat.
The IAF has ordered a court of inquiry to determine the cause of the crash - the third such accident involving the twin-engine bomber since March.
The twin-seater aircraft, which took off from Suratgarh airbase near Sriganganagar, went down around 12.40pm with a loud explosion, sparking fear and panic among local residents.
In a post on X, the IAF confirmed that both pilots - whose identities have not been made public so far - sustained fatal injuries in the accident.
The IAF remains the only air force where the jet is still in service.
A lthough IAF did not name the deceased pilots, Rajasthan cabinet minister Rajyavardhan Rathore condoled on X the deaths of Squadron Leader Lokender Singh Sindhu and Flight Lieutenant Rishi Raj Singh. The wreckage of the fighter jet was scattered across an agricultural field, with no reported damage to civilian property. The area was later cordoned off by security forces.
Churu SP Jai Yadav stated that efforts were underway to collect the scattered debris. As per database of Aviation Safety network, at least 12 Jaguars have crashed in the last decade. Yet, the vintage jet developed in 1960s and inducted into IAF in 1979 is expected to remain in service till around 2040. Emergency response teams, fire services and ambulances quickly reached the scene.
IAF officers were airlifted to the crash site and a military investigation team began to collect the debris. Rajaldesar SHO Kamlesh confirmed the discovery of human remains near crash site. District officials were overseeing the situation at crash site. Rajasthan governor Haribhau Bagde, CM Bhajan Lal Sharma and former CM Ashok Gehlot expressed condolences over the tragic deaths. In April, a Jaguar trainer aircraft had crashed in Gujarat's Jamnagar, killing one of the two pilots.
On March 7, a Jaguar on a routine sortie had crashed in Ambala due to a technical snag, but the pilot had managed to eject safely.
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