Daijiworld Media Network - Jaipur

Jaipur, Jul 9: A Jaguar fighter jet of the Indian Air Force crashed on Wednesday in Bhanuda village under the Rajaldesar police station area in Churu district, Rajasthan, reportedly resulting in two fatalities.

Confirming the incident, Churu SP Jai Yadav said that police teams have been dispatched to the site of the crash. "Severely mutilated body parts have been recovered near the wreckage," he stated.

The impact of the crash left a massive crater in the field where the aircraft went down, with debris from the jet scattered across a 200-foot radius. Eyewitnesses reported seeing the aircraft engulfed in flames as it descended from the sky before crashing near Charanan Mohalla on Sikrali Road.

Locals from Bhanuda and nearby villages rushed to the scene shortly after the crash, alarmed by the explosion and falling debris. According to villagers, burning parts of the aircraft were strewn across the field, and human remains were visible in several locations within the impact zone. While the exact number of personnel aboard the jet remains unconfirmed, locals believe one or two people may have been inside at the time of the crash.

The Indian Air Force is yet to officially comment on the cause of the crash or confirm the casualties. Further investigation is underway.
This marks the third Jaguar crash in 2024. A previous incident occurred on March 7 in Panchkula, Haryana, followed by another on April 2 near Jamnagar, Gujarat.

The Jaguar is a twin-engine, ground-attack fighter-bomber, used in both single-seat and twin-seat variants. Despite being a vintage platform, the aircraft remains operational within the IAF’s fleet due to significant upgrades over the years.