Two Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots have died after their fighter jet crashed during a routine training flight near Churu in Rajasthan, officials confirmed on Wednesday, July 9, 2025.
The aircraft, believed to be a Jaguar jet, went down in an agricultural area during a scheduled mission, killing both the pilot and co-pilot instantly.
IAF has launched a formal inquiry to determine what caused the fatal crash.
In an official post on X (formerly Twitter), the Indian Air Force said:
“An Indian Air Force aircraft met with an accident during a training mission in Rajasthan.
Both pilots sustained fatal injuries. A Court of Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident.”
Though the IAF did not disclose the aircraft model, a military pilot familiar with the situation said the crash involved a two-seater Jaguar fighter jet.
The source spoke anonymously, as they are not authorized to speak to the press.
Images from the crash site show the wreckage scattered across a field, with debris burning amid charred vegetation.
Emergency response teams and local police arrived swiftly to secure the area and assist in rescue operations, but both airmen were declared dead at the scene.
This tragic event adds to a worrying pattern of IAF crashes.
So far in 2025, at least two Jaguars and one Mirage 2000 fighter jet have gone down during training exercises.
Aviation experts are raising red flags over the airworthiness of India’s aging combat fleet and the intense operational pressures on pilots.
The Jaguar, a ground-attack aircraft used by the IAF since the late 1970s, is gradually being phased out.
Yet it remains in active service, often deployed in training and combat simulations.
India’s defense establishment is now under pressure to accelerate fleet upgrades and enhance pilot safety protocols. The Air Force has promised full transparency in its investigation.
Families of the deceased pilots are being contacted, and the IAF has pledged full support to them during this tragic time.
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