On Wednesday, an Indian Air Force (IAF) jet crashed in Churu district of Rajasthan, as confirmed by local police authorities. The incident occurred in Bhanoda village of Ratangarh Tehsil, and according to officials from the Rajaldesar police station, two pilots were onboard the aircraft at the time of the crash. Further details regarding the condition of the pilots or the cause of the crash have not yet been released.
This incident is the latest in a series of IAF aircraft accidents in recent months. In April, a two-seater Jaguar fighter jet belonging to the Indian Air Force crashed in an open field in Suvarda village of Gujarat’s Jamnagar district. That particular crash, which occurred during a training mission, resulted in the death of one of the two pilots onboard. The aircraft had taken off for a routine training sortie but went down approximately 18 kilometers from Jamnagar city, near the Kalavad highway.
The Jaguar involved in the Jamnagar incident was a two-seater variant used primarily for training purposes. Police confirmed that the aircraft was flying a night sortie when the accident happened. The cause of the crash was initially believed to be a technical malfunction, though official confirmation is still pending.
Going back to March, another Jaguar fighter jet met with a similar fate shortly after it took off from the Ambala airbase in Haryana. That same day, an AN-32 transport aircraft of the IAF crash-landed in Bagdogra, West Bengal. Fortunately, in both of these March incidents, the aircrew managed to eject safely and no fatalities were reported.
The Jaguar that crashed in Ambala was on a standard sortie when it experienced a technical snag, leading to a crash soon after takeoff. The pilot, reacting swiftly, was able to eject in time and survived the incident. Similarly, the AN-32 transport aircraft made an emergency landing at Bagdogra airport under unknown circumstances. Officials have yet to confirm the reason behind the forced landing of the AN-32 aircraft, although it was successfully brought down without causing any harm to the crew or ground personnel.
These consecutive incidents have brought attention to the technical challenges and safety concerns surrounding IAF aircraft, especially older models like the Jaguar, which have been in service for several decades. While the Indian Air Force has been working on modernizing its fleet with newer aircraft and upgraded technology, recurring technical malfunctions in operational jets continue to pose risks during both training and active missions.
Investigations are typically conducted after such crashes to identify causes, ensure accountability, and implement safety improvements. With the latest crash in Churu adding to the list of recent mishaps, it is expected that a detailed probe will follow to assess the technical condition of the aircraft, pilot actions, and any lapses in operational procedures.
In conclusion, the series of IAF jet crashes in Churu, Jamnagar, Ambala, and Bagdogra over the last few months underscores the need for stringent maintenance checks, timely upgrades, and comprehensive safety evaluations to minimize risk and enhance pilot safety during flight operations.