IAF pilot succumbs to injuries after Jaguar fighter jet crashes in Gujarat; court of inquiry ordered
PTC Web Desk: An Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot, who was critically injured after a Jaguar fighter jet crashed near Suvarda village, Gujarat, succumbed to his injuries on Thursday, the IAF confirmed in a statement. The second pilot, who managed to eject safely, is currently undergoing treatment at GG Hospital in Jamnagar, where his condition is reported to be stable.
The Jaguar aircraft, which was on a training mission, crashed around 9.30 pm on Wednesday, approximately 12 km from Jamnagar city. Upon impact, the ageing fighter jet broke into pieces and caught fire, as seen in videos from the crash site. Fortunately, there were no civilian casualties on the ground.
According to the IAF’s official statement, the pilots encountered a technical malfunction and attempted to eject, ensuring that the aircraft did not endanger the airfield or nearby population. Expressing condolences, the IAF stated, “Unfortunately, one pilot succumbed to his injuries, while the other is receiving medical care. We deeply regret the loss of life and stand in solidarity with the bereaved family.”
A court of inquiry has been ordered to determine the cause of the accident.
This incident adds to a series of crashes involving the IAF’s Jaguar fleet in recent years. Earlier this year, another Jaguar fighter jet crashed near Panchkula, Haryana, due to a system malfunction. The pilot in that case managed to steer the aircraft away from populated areas before ejecting safely.
The Jaguar, a British-French supersonic jet attack aircraft, has been a mainstay of the IAF since 1979 and is primarily used for ground attack missions. The IAF currently operates around 121 Jaguar aircraft, with plans to phase them out gradually by 2031, replacing them with the indigenously developed Tejas Mk1A by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
- With inputs from agencies
