Military Aircraft of the Indian Air Force Crashes in Rajasthan Region
In a tragic incident on Wednesday, a Jaguar Trainer aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed near Bhanuda village in the Churu district of Rajasthan during a routine training mission. The aircraft took off from Suratgarh air base.
The crash resulted in the loss of both pilots aboard, and although the immediate cause is currently under investigation by a court of inquiry ordered by the IAF, reports suggest a significant safety limitation in the Jaguar's older Martin-Baker ejection seats. Unlike modern jets, the ejection seat in Jaguars requires the pilot to physically pull the ejection handle, which can be critical if the pilots become unconscious or disoriented, potentially contributing to fatal outcomes in crashes.
This is the third Jaguar crash in 2025, raising concerns about the aging fleet, which was inducted in 1979 and is scheduled for phased retirement after 2028. The incidents have intensified calls for urgent modernization of the IAF's fleet.
The Indian Air Force expressed its deepest condolences for the loss of lives and offered support to the bereaved families. Search and rescue operations were carried out by police teams and IAF choppers, but no new information has been provided regarding these operations.
The news was reported by the news agency ANI, and the IAF confirmed the incident on its official X account. So far, no damage to civilian property has been reported as a result of the crash.
This incident marks a sad day for the Indian Air Force and the nation, and our thoughts are with the families of the pilots who lost their lives in this tragic accident. The investigation is ongoing to determine the exact cause of the crash, and we will update you as more information becomes available.
The Indian Air Force fleet, which includes sports aircraft like the Jaguar, is under scrutiny following the third crash this year, as questions are raised about the aging aircraft's safety. Concerns over the outdated ejection seats, requiring manual operation instead of automatic activation, have surfaced as a potential factor in these crashes, intensifying calls for fleet modernization.
