An Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot lost his life after a Jaguar fighter jet crashed near Bhanuda village in Rajasthan’s Churu district, Indian media reported on Tuesday.
The aircraft had taken off from the Suratgarh airbase and went down shortly after in a remote area. Emergency teams rushed to the site, but the pilot was confirmed dead at the scene.
The Jaguar, a twin-engine ground-attack aircraft, has been in service with the IAF since the late 1970s. While the fleet has received multiple upgrades over the decades, the aging aircraft continues to pose operational challenges.
This incident marks the second Jaguar crash in recent months. On March 7, another Jaguar went down in Ambala, reportedly due to a system malfunction. In that case, the pilot managed to eject safely after steering the aircraft away from a populated area.
The Indian Air Force has launched an inquiry to determine the cause of the latest crash. Officials have yet to release the identity of the deceased pilot, pending notification of next of kin.
