July 9, 2025: In a tragic incident on Wednesday, an Indian Air Force (IAF) Jaguar fighter jet crashed around 1:25 pm in an agricultural field near Banoda village in Rajasthan’s Churu district, SHO Rajaldesar Kamlesh confirmed to PTI.
Initial visuals from the crash site suggest a fatal outcome, as human body parts were discovered scattered around the wreckage. The identity of the pilot(s) and further details are still awaited as authorities continue rescue and investigation efforts.
Also Read: Plane Crash News: Fighter Jet Crashes in Rajasthan’s Churu, IAF Investigation Underway
This marks the fifth IAF jet crash in recent months, raising growing concerns about flight safety and aircraft maintenance protocols.
Just three months ago, in April 2025, a two-seater Jaguar aircraft crashed shortly after taking off from Jamnagar Airfield during a night mission. One pilot, Siddharth Yadav, tragically lost his life during ejection, while the other was injured.
In March, another IAF fighter jet went down during a routine training sortie in Panchkula, Haryana. The pilot safely ejected after steering the aircraft away from populated areas. A technical malfunction was cited as the probable cause.
In February, a Mirage 2000 crashed near Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh, also during training. Fortunately, both pilots ejected safely. And in November 2024, a MiG-29 jet crashed near Agra, Uttar Pradesh, with the pilot surviving after ejection due to a technical fault.
With multiple crashes in a short span, the Indian Air Force is expected to intensify investigations and review safety protocols to prevent further mishaps. A formal inquiry into today’s crash is also likely to follow.