An IAF Jaguar fighter during a live-fire drill. (File photo)
Jamnagar, Gujarat: A Jaguar fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed on Wednesday evening during a training mission approximately 12 kilometres from Jamnagar city in Gujarat, near Suvarda village. One of the two pilots flying the warplane ejected safely while the other is missing.
The crash caused the aircraft to catch fire, scattering debris across an open field.
An Indian Air Force #Jaguar fighter jet crashed this evening approximately 12 kilometres from #Jamnagar in Gujarat. One of the two pilots flying the warplane ejected safely while the other is missing.
— India Sentinels (@indiasentinels) April 2, 2025
Report following soon.@IAF_MCC @SpokespersonMoD#JaguarCrash #JamnagarCrash pic.twitter.com/N5ArOdJWAw
According to the authorities, the twin-seater Jaguar jet was on a routine training sortie when the accident occurred. Authorities said one of the two pilots managed to eject safely before the crash and was promptly rescued. However, the second pilot remains unaccounted for, prompting an extensive search operation led by local authorities and rescue teams. The Jamnagar superintendent of police, Premsukh Delu, confirmed that firefighters and police personnel have been deployed to locate the missing pilot.
Eyewitnesses reported a large cloud of smoke engulfing the area after the crash, followed by burning fragments of the aircraft scattered across the field. Fortunately, no civilians were harmed as the crash site was in an unpopulated area. Officials noted that a major tragedy was averted as the aircraft avoided residential zones during its descent.
The cause of the crash remains unclear, and investigations are underway to determine what led to this tragic incident. The IAF has not yet released an official statement regarding technical or operational issues that may have contributed to the accident.
This marks another setback for the Jaguar fleet, which has seen multiple accidents in recent months. Last month, another Jaguar fighter jet crashed near Haryana’s Panchkula due to a system malfunction. The aircraft has been a cornerstone of India’s defence capabilities since its induction in 1979 but has faced challenges related to ageing systems and operational risks.
The SEPECAT Jaguar, known as “Shamsher” in IAF service, is an Anglo-French supersonic attack aircraft designed for deep penetration strikes and low-altitude operations. Despite its critical role in India’s defence strategy, concerns have been raised over its reliability and safety in recent years.
It may be recalled that on the same day 11 years ago, on April 2, 2004, the Air Force lost two young pilots – Flight Lieutenant Gagan Oberoi and Flight Lieutenant Mayank Mayur of No. 5 Squadron – lost their lives in a Jaguar crash near Sonmarg in Kashmir, during a training mission.
As rescue operations continue through the night, authorities are working diligently to locate the missing pilot and secure the crash site. Further updates are expected as investigations progress into this unfortunate incident that underscores the inherent risks faced by military personnel during training missions.
