Indian Air Force Jet Crashes near Jamnagar: One Pilot Dead, Another Ejects

On Thursday, an Indian Air Force (IAF) Jaguar fighter jet crashed during a training mission close to Jamnagar in Gujarat. One pilot successfully ejected, and the other was missing at first, but his dead body was soon found. The jet caught fire upon impact in a field located in Suvarda village, just 12 kilometers from Jamnagar city. “Police and fire teams are at the scene, diligently working to locate the missing pilot,” said Jamnagar Superintendent of Police Premsukh Delu. Videos from the area showed the cockpit and tail section of the jet burning in the field.

The twin seat Jaguar, a twin engine fighter bomber that's been part of the IAF's fleet since the late 1970s, was on a standard training flight. While it's an older model, the aircraft has received numerous upgrades in an attempt to try and make sure it stays operational. This incident is the second Jaguar crash in recent weeks. On March 7, another jet crashed in Ambala due to a reported system malfunction. The pilot was able to divert the aircraft away from populated areas and ejected safely.

As of now, the IAF hasn't shared what led to Thursday's crash. Investigations will probably delve into technical glitches or human error, but officials are urging everyone to wait for more details before jumping to conclusions. The Indian Jaguar fleet, which is primarily tasked with ground attack missions, is still a crucial part of India's air defense, despite its somewhat almost ancient design. The series of incidents has raised concerns about the safety of these aging aircraft within the Indian fleet, but India maintains that they are trying to consistently upgrade them to keep them in the skies for longer.