IAF training jet crashes in Rajasthan, 2 pilots killed

at 5:15 PM

Two Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots were killed when their Jaguar fighter jet crashed near Churu, Rajasthan, on Wednesday. The IAF confirmed the accident occurred during a routine training mission.

The aircraft, a British-French-made Jaguar, went down in an agricultural field around 1:25 pm (local time), according to officials. Human remains were found near the crash site.

“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,” the IAF said in a post on X.

“IAF deeply regrets the loss of lives and stands firmly with the bereaved families in this time of grief,” IAF added.

The IAF stated that no civilian property was damaged. A court of inquiry has been established to investigate the cause of the crash. The aircraft had taken off from the Suratgarh airbase with two pilots on board.

While the IAF expressed deep regret and offered condolences to the families of the deceased pilots, the incident marks another in a series of recent accidents involving Indian Air Force aircraft.

Earlier this year, a Tejas light combat jet crashed in Rajasthan, and in May, India’s Chief of Defence Staff confirmed that several of their fighter jets were shot down by Pakistan during a recent conflict. Pakistan had said thta six IAF jets were shot down.

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