Churu: A twin-seat trainer variant of the Indian Air Force’s Jaguar fighter jet crashed Wednesday afternoon in an agricultural field near Bhanoda village in Rajasthan’s Churu district, defense officials said.

Two pilots were killed in the crash, according to the officials.

According to SHO Kamlesh of Rajaldesar police station, the crash occurred around 1:25 PM, and human body parts were found near the wreckage, indicating a likely fatality. Local police teams were immediately deployed to the site, and IAF helicopters were dispatched for rescue and recovery operations.

The aircraft had taken off from the Suratgarh air base with two pilots onboard for a routine training sortie when the mishap occurred. The cause of the crash remains unknown, and an official investigation is expected to follow.

Repeat of recent incidents involving Jaguar jets

This crash adds to a series of recent accidents involving the Jaguar fleet, a deep penetration strike aircraft operated by the IAF.

In April 2025, a twin-seater Jaguar crashed shortly after takeoff from Jamnagar Airfield in Gujarat during a night training mission. The aircraft suffered a technical malfunction mid-flight, prompting both pilots to eject. Unfortunately, Squadron Leader Siddharth Yadav succumbed to injuries, while the co-pilot was injured.

Earlier, on March 7, another Jaguar aircraft crashed near Ambala in Haryana, although in that incident, the pilot ejected safely.