RAJASTHAN – A fighter jet belonging to the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed in the Churu district of Rajasthan on Wednesday, resulting in the death of the pilot, according to Indian defence officials.
The aircraft, identified as a Jaguar, was on a routine training mission when it lost contact with air traffic control and went down in a sparsely populated area near a local village. Emergency services and military personnel rushed to the site and cordoned off the area to begin recovery and investigation operations.
Eyewitnesses in the region reported hearing a loud explosion followed by a plume of smoke rising from the crash site. Local authorities confirmed that the wreckage had been located and that no civilian casualties were reported on the ground.
An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the crash. While initial reports suggest the possibility of technical malfunction, officials have not ruled out other factors.
The Jaguar fleet, originally inducted into the IAF in the late 1970s, has seen multiple upgrades over the years. However, the aircraft’s aging technology has raised safety concerns, especially following a series of similar incidents in recent years.
This marks the second IAF aircraft crash within the past three months, putting additional pressure on the Indian defence establishment to accelerate modernization efforts and ensure flight safety.
Reported by PakTribune Defence Desk
All rights reserved.
