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NDTV
6 days ago
- General
- NDTV
Pilots Killed In Jaguar Crash: Squadron Leader, 44, Young Flight Lieutenant
New Delhi: The two Indian Air Force pilots killed in the Jaguar fighter bomber crash in Rajasthan's Churu district yesterday have been identified as Squadron Leader Lokendra Singh Sindhu, 44, and Flight Lieutenant Rishi Raj Singh, 23. While Squadron Leader Sindhu was from Haryana's Rohtak, Lieutenant Singh was from Pali In Rajasthan. The twin-seater fighter jet went down yesterday afternoon near Bhanoda village in Churu district while the pilots were on a routine training mission. The Air Force yesterday announced that an inquiry has been ordered to find out what led to the crash. "An IAF Jaguar Trainer aircraft met with an accident during a routine training mission and crashed near Churu in Rajasthan, today. Both pilots sustained fatal injuries in the accident. No damage to any civil property has been reported. IAF deeply regrets the loss of lives and stands firmly with the bereaved families in this time of grief. A court of inquiry has been constituted, to ascertain the cause of the accident," the IAF said in a statement. This is the third Jaguar fighter jet to crash this year: the first was in Haryana's Panchkula on March 7 and the second near Jamnagar in Gujarat on April 2. The Jaguar fighter used by the IAF is vintage and has been heavily upgraded over the years. India currently has about 120 such fighter jets in operation and these are spread across six squadrons. Yesterday's crash has once again put the spotlight on how safe these Jaguar fighters are. Inducted into the Air Force in 1979, most of these are built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited under a transfer of technology from SEPECAT, a joint venture between France's Breguet and the British Aircraft Corporation. The Indian Air Force is now the only operator of these low-flying fighter bombers. Countries like Britain, France, Ecuador, Nigeria and Oman, which once had Jaguars in their fleet, have retired them long ago. The IAF, too, is expected to start phasing out the older Jaguar models, but delays in the delivery of the HAL Tejas Mk2, Rafale, and Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft have left it with little choice but to continue with the Jaguars. Enquiries into the earlier crashes involving Jaguars have pointed to engine failure, underlining the fact that it is time they are phased out.
NDTV
6 days ago
- General
- NDTV
Jaguar Jets Were First Inducted In IAF In 1970s. 3 Have Crashed Since March
Rajasthan: Two fighter pilots were killed after a Jaguar aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed near Churu district in Rajasthan on Wednesday afternoon. The plane crashed in an agricultural field in Bhanoda village around 1.25 pm, according to police. "An IAF Jaguar Trainer aircraft met with an accident during a routine training mission and crashed near Churu in Rajasthan today. Both pilots sustained fatal injuries in the accident. No damage to any civil property has been reported," IAF said in a post on X. The Air Forces said it "deeply regrets" the loss of lives and constituted a court of inquiry to ascertain the cause of the accident. But it is to be noted that this was the third Jaguar crash this year since March. On March 7, an Anglo-French SEPECAT Jaguar ground attack fighter went down near Ambala during a routine sortie. At the time, the pilot was able to eject safely, but the incident highlighted the risks of flying these ageing aircraft. Just a month later, on April 3, another Jaguar jet crashed in Gujarat's Jamnagar. The pilot, Flight Lieutenant Siddharth Yadav, died in the crash that occurred due to a critical technical malfunction in the aircraft. In a remarkable act of bravery before his death, Lieutenant Yadav saved countless lives by steering the crashing aircraft away from a densely populated area. He also ejected his fellow pilot, ensuring his safety before tragically losing his own life. Too Old To Fly? The Jaguar jets were inducted into the IAF in 1979. The twin-engine fighter aircraft forms an important part of India's nuclear triad, but the Indian Air Force is the only operator of these low-flying fighter bombers-- the majority of which were licence-built by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under a transfer of technology from SEPECAT, a joint venture between France's Breguet and the British Aircraft Corporation. Countries like Britain, France, Ecuador, Nigeria and Oman, which once had Jaguars in their fleet, have retired them long ago, with some jets put on display in air museums. The IAF too, is expected to begin 'number-plating' or phasing out its older Jaguar models after 2027-28 onwards, but amid delays in acquiring the HAL Tejas Mk2, Rafale, and MRFA (Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft), it is left with little choice but to extend the life of these outdated planes. IAF is already short on its fighter squadrons from a sanctioned strength of 42.5 to just 30 jets presently. Enquiries into many of the earlier accidents and mishaps involving Jaguars pointed to engine failure, asserting the fact that these jets are long past their expiry date.
