An Air Force pilot who was injured after a Jaguar fighter jet crashed in Gujarat died on Thursday, the Indian Air Force (IAF) said in a statement. Another pilot, who ejected safely from the ill-fated jet, is receiving treatment at a hospital in Jamnagar.
The fighter jet, which was on a training mission, crashed at around 9.30 pm on Wednesday near Suvarda village, nearly 12 km from Jamnagar city, and caught fire. The ageing Jaguar aircraft broke into pieces and turned into a ball of fire after the crash, videos from the site showed.
There were no civilian casualties on the ground, the IAF said. A court of inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident.
"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 is receiving medical treatment at a hospital in Jamnagar. IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family," the IAF statement said.
The injured pilot is being treated at the government-run GG Hospital and his condition is stable, said police.
Earlier this year, another Jaguar fighter jet crashed near Haryana's Panchkula following a system malfunction. The pilot managed to steer the aircraft away from populated areas before ejecting safely.
The latest crashes are a long list of incidents involving the IAF's Jaguar aircraft in recent years. The acquisition of Jaguars, a British-French supersonic jet attack aircraft, started way back in 1979.
A mainstay of the IAF, the jets are primarily used for ground attack roles. The Air Force has around 121 Jaguar aircraft, with plans to gradually phase them out by 2031 and replace them with the Tejas Mk1A being made by HAL.
Source: India Today
