Third IAF Jaguar Crash of 2025 Claims Two Pilots, Fuels Calls for Fleet Retirement!

The Indian Air Force (IAF) suffered a devastating loss on July 9, 2025, when a Jaguar trainer aircraft crashed near Bhanoda village in Rajasthan’s Churu district, killing Squadron Leader Lokendra Singh Sindhu, 31, from Rohtak, Haryana, and Flight Lieutenant Rishi Raj Singh, 23, from Pali, Rajasthan. The twin-seater jet, on a routine training mission from Suratgarh airbase, went down at 12:40 PM, with eyewitnesses reporting a loud explosion and flames. No civilian property was harmed, and the IAF has ordered a court of inquiry to investigate, with preliminary reports pointing to a possible engine failure.

This is the third Jaguar crash this year, following incidents in Panchkula, Haryana (March 7) and Jamnagar, Gujarat (April 2), reigniting concerns over the safety of the IAF’s 120-strong Jaguar fleet, spread across six squadrons. Inducted in 1979 and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited under a SEPECAT license, these low-flying fighter-bombers, equipped with upgraded DARIN III avionics, are the last of their kind globally, as nations like Britain and France have retired them. Previous crash inquiries have flagged engine issues, underscoring the need to phase out the ageing airframes.

Delays in acquiring HAL Tejas Mk2, Rafale, and Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft have compelled the IAF to rely on the Jaguars, despite plans to retire them by 2035. Social media on X is abuzz with calls to ground the “outdated” jets, citing risks to pilots. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma offered condolences, with the pilots’ last rites set for Thursday. With the IAF’s squadron strength at 30 against a sanctioned 42.5, this tragedy intensifies pressure for urgent fleet modernization.

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

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