WEBDESK: In yet another tragic incident highlighting the risks of India’s ageing military fleet, a twin seater Jaguar fighter jet belonging to the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed on Wednesday near Bhanoda village in Rajasthan’s Churu district. Both pilots on board lost their lives. The crash took place at 1:25 pm during what the IAF called a “routine training mission”.
Third Crash of the Year Raises Serious Questions
While no civilian property was damaged, the fatal crash marks the third Jaguar fighter accident in 2025 alone a concerning statistic for a fleet long past its prime according to the Indian media. The IAF issued a brief statement expressing deep regret over the loss of lives and announced a formal inquiry, a standard response after recurring mishaps.
Indian Fighter jet crashe: A String of Avoidable Disasters
This latest crash follows two earlier Jaguar incidents this year. The first happened on 7 March in Haryana’s Panchkula, and the second on 2 April near Jamnagar, Gujarat. In the April accident, Pilot Siddharth Yadav died while saving his co-pilot after a technical malfunction a heroic act overshadowed by growing criticism of the IAF’s continued reliance on outdated jets.
The Jaguar, a twin engine fighter-bomber dating back to the 1970s, remains in service despite repeated crashes and known technical faults. India operates around 120 of these ageing aircraft, many of which have undergone makeshift upgrades to extend their operational life. Critics argue that India’s failure to retire these obsolete machines has turned them into flying coffins, endangering the lives of pilots with every sortie.
Token Inquiries, No Real Accountability
Each time one of these accidents occurs, routine inquiries are ordered, but little changes on the ground. The IAF’s refusal to phase out outdated jets like the Jaguar continues to invite preventable tragedies raising uncomfortable questions about India’s military leadership and its priorities.
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