Churu: A Jaguar fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed on Wednesday afternoon near Bhanuda village in Churu district, Rajasthan. According to defence officials, the jet had taken off from the Suratgarh airbase for a routine training mission when it went down around 1:25 PM, crashing into an agricultural field.
Initial reports confirm two fatalities, including the IAF pilot. The identity of the second victim has not yet been officially confirmed by either the military or local authorities. The pilot’s body was recovered from the crash site in a severely charred condition, police sources said.
Eyewitnesses in the village reported hearing a loud explosion, followed by plumes of smoke and fire rising from the crash site. The impact reportedly caused fires in nearby fields, which locals attempted to extinguish before emergency services arrived. District Collector Abhishek Surana and local police teams quickly reached the site, with an Army rescue unit also expected to join operations. The area has been cordoned off, and an investigation into the incident is underway.
The cause of the crash is currently unknown. Officials have stated that a detailed inquiry will follow, and an official statement from the Indian Air Force is expected after preliminary assessments are completed.
Also Read: Torrential Rains Flood Nagpur, Prompting Red Alert from IMD