Pilot Succumbs To Injuries After Air Force's Jaguar Fighter Jet Crashes In Gujarat

An IAF pilot succumbed to injuries after a Jaguar fighter jet crashed in Jamnagar, Gujarat, during a night mission after the aircraft faced a technical malfunction.

Smoke and flames billow out after a Jaguar fighter jet of the Indian Air Force crashed while on a training mission, at a village near Jamnagar IAF station in Gujarat.

Source : PTI

The Indian Air Force informed, on Thursday morning, that one pilot succumbed to his injuries after the Jaguar fighter aircraft crashed in Gujarat's Jamnagar the previous day while on a night mission. The IAF said that the pilots faced a “technical malfunction and initiated ejection”. The other pilot safely ejected and is receiving medical treatment at a hospital in Jamnagar.

In its X post, IAF further said that it “deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family”.

An IAF Jaguar two seater aircraft airborne from Jamnagar Airfield crashed during a night mission. The pilots faced a technical malfunction and initiated ejection, avoiding harm to airfield and local population. Unfortunately, one pilot succumbed to his injuries, while the other…

— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) April 3, 2025

It also informed that a Court of Inquiry has been ordered “to ascertain the cause of the accident”.

The two pilots were in the Jaguar trainer aircraft when they faced a technical snag. The injured pilot was then taken to the government-run GG Hospital in the city, and his condition was stated to be stable. While the other pilot was said to be missing. Following the incident, District Superintendent of Police (SP) Premsukh Delu said, "While one pilot safely ejected before the crash, another one is still missing. The aircraft caught fire after the crash landing. Police and firefighters have rushed to the spot and started searching for the missing pilot".

The fighter jet crashed in an open field at Suvarda village, nearly 12 km from Jamnagar city and caught fire. There was no civilian casualty on the ground, and the cause of the crash was not immediately known.

The videos from the spot in Suvarda village showed what appeared to be a field on fire with the cockpit of the crashed plane and its tail seen lying in different areas. Both parts were burning.

Following the incident, district collector Ketan Thakkar also rushed to the spot. He said firefighters put out the fire in the open field.

"We immediately shifted the injured pilot to GG Hospital. The jet crashed in an open field, but there was no civilian casualty. Police as well as Air Force officials are currently trying to locate the missing pilot," said Thakkar.