IAF's Jaguar fighter jet crashes in Rajasthan's Churu, both pilots killed

A Jaguar fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed near Rajasthan’s Churu district on Wednesday, killing both pilots. "An IAF Jaguar Trainer aircraft met with an accident during a routine training mission and crashed near Churu in Rajasthan, today," the Air Force said in a brief statement. "Both pilots sustained fatal injuries in the accident. No damage to any civil property has been reported." 

The crash took place in Bhanuda village, where locals reported hearing a loud noise in the sky, followed by flames and smoke rising from nearby fields. The pilot's body was later recovered near the wreckage in a severely damaged condition. 

As news of the crash spread, panic gripped the nearby town of Ratangarh. District Collector Abhishek Surana and senior police officials rushed to the site. Villagers said the crash triggered a fire in the fields, which they tried to put out themselves.

The IAF said it "deeply regrets" the loss of lives and stands firmly with the bereaved families in this time of grief. "A court of inquiry has been constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident," it said.

Earlier, Rajasthan Police officials said the jet crashed at around 1.25 pm in an agricultural field in Bhanoda village. Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagade and Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma have expressed grief over the incident. "Sad news of the crash of an Indian Air Force plane in Ratangarh area of Churu district has been received. Immediately after the incident, the administration is in alert mode and instructions have been given to the officials for relief and rescue work," Sharma posted on X.