Rohtak Bids Emotional Farewell to IAF Squadron Leader Lokender Singh Sandhu

The mortal remains of Squadron Leader Lokender Singh Sindhu, one of two Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots killed in a Jaguar fighter jet crash near Churu, Rajasthan, on Wednesday, were consigned to flames with full military honors in his hometown of Rohtak, Haryana, on Thursday. The 32-year-old pilot, who hailed from Kheri Sadh village in Rohtak district, left behind a grieving family, including his wife, Dr. Surbhi Sindhu, and their one-month-old son, born on June 10, 2025.

The tragic incident occurred during a routine training mission when the twin-seater Jaguar trainer aircraft, which took off from Suratgarh Air Base, crashed in an agricultural field near Bhanoda village in Churu district around 1:25 pm. Both pilots, Squadron Leader Lokender Singh Sindhu and Flight Lieutenant Rishi Raj Singh, aged 23, from Pali, Rajasthan, sustained fatal injuries. The IAF reported no damage to civilian property and has constituted a court of inquiry to investigate the cause of the crash, with preliminary reports suggesting a technical malfunction.

Lokender, commissioned into the IAF in 2016 after training at the National Defence Academy, was remembered as a dedicated officer with a lifelong dream of flying. His father, Joginder Singh, a retired superintendent from Maharshi Dayanand University, described him as a bright student who always aspired to "touch the sky." His mother, a schoolteacher, and elder brother, Gyanendra, who works at a multinational company, also mourned his loss. Lokender’s sister recently completed her tenure as a short-service commissioned officer in the IAF.

Also Read: Pilot Killed in Tragic IAF Jaguar Crash in Rajasthan’s Churu

The family was in celebration mode just weeks ago, marking the birth of Lokender’s son. He had rejoined duty on June 30 after attending a family function for his newborn. Hours before the crash, he had shared pictures of his son on the family WhatsApp group and spoken to his father, unaware of the tragedy that would soon unfold.

Hundreds attended Lokender’s last rites in Rohtak, where IAF personnel carried his mortal remains, draped in the national flag, in a solemn ceremony. His grandfather, Balwan Singh, recalled Lokender’s calm and composed nature, noting a brigadier had once recognized his potential for a career in the defense forces.

This crash marks the third Jaguar aircraft incident in 2025, following crashes in Panchkula, Haryana, on March 7, where the pilot ejected safely, and near Jamnagar, Gujarat, on April 2, where one pilot died. The recurring accidents have raised concerns about the aging Jaguar fleet, which, despite avionics upgrades like DARIN III, operates on legacy engines and airframes. The IAF plans to phase out these aircraft by 2035, transitioning to modern platforms like the indigenous Tejas and Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and Governor Haribhau Bagade expressed their condolences, with Sharma noting that the administration was on high alert for relief and rescue operations. The IAF, along with Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, conveyed deep sorrow and pledged support to the bereaved families.

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