Two Killed as IAF Jaguar Fighter Jet Crashes in Rajasthan’s Churu

Jaipur – A Jaguar fighter jet of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed on Wednesday in Bhanuda village under the Rajaldesar police station limits of Churu district in Rajasthan, reportedly resulting in two fatalities.

Churu Superintendent of Police Jai Yadav confirmed the incident and said police teams had been rushed to the crash site.
"Severely mutilated body parts have been recovered near the wreckage," he added.

A large crater has formed at the crash site, with debris from the aircraft scattered across a wide area.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing the jet engulfed in flames as it plummeted from the sky and crashed in an open field near Charanan Mohalla on Sikrali Road. Burning fragments of the aircraft were spread across a 200-foot radius.

Residents from Bhanuda and neighboring villages quickly gathered at the scene. Many locals believe that one or two personnel may have been onboard the jet at the time of the crash.

Human remains and aircraft debris are reportedly strewn throughout the impact zone. The Indian Air Force is yet to release further details about the incident.

Villagers described the horrifying scene of the jet falling in flames and disintegrating mid-air, with fiery debris scattered across the fields.

This marks the third crash involving a Jaguar fighter jet this year. A Jaguar had previously crashed in Panchkula, Haryana on March 7, and another near Jamnagar, Gujarat on April 2.

The Jaguar is a twin-engine, ground-attack fighter-bomber used extensively by the IAF. Despite being a legacy aircraft, it remains operational after undergoing significant upgrades over the years.

With inputs from IANS