What Caused the Crash of IAF's Jaguar Fighter Jet in Rajasthan's Churu?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Two lives lost in the Jaguar fighter jet crash.
- Incident occurred in Bhanuda village, Rajasthan.
- Eyewitnesses reported a fiery descent.
- This is the third crash of the Jaguar this year.
- Jaguar remains a crucial part of the IAF's fleet despite its age.
Jaipur, July 9 (NationPress) An Indian Air Force fighter jet, the 'Jaguar', tragically went down in Bhanuda village within the jurisdiction of the Rajaldesar police station in Rajasthan's Churu district on Wednesday, resulting in the loss of two lives.
Churu SP Jai Yadav confirmed the incident and stated that police teams have been dispatched to the crash site.
"Severely mutilated body parts have been recovered near the wreckage," he reported.
A substantial crater has developed at the crash location, with aircraft debris scattered throughout the vicinity.
Eyewitnesses from the village reported seeing the aircraft descending from the sky engulfed in flames, eventually crashing in a field close to Charanan Mohalla on Sikrali Road. Burning fragments of the jet were found dispersed within a 200-foot radius.
Residents from Bhanuda and surrounding areas rushed to the scene.
Locals speculate that one or two personnel might have been aboard the jet at the time of the incident.
Human remains along with aircraft debris are extensively spread across the impact area. Additional information is pending from the Indian Air Force.
Witnesses mentioned that they saw a burning plane plummeting from the sky near Beed close to Charanan Mohalla on Sikrali Road. Subsequently, scattered burning pieces of the aircraft were found over an area of approximately 200 feet.
"Residents from both Bhanuda and nearby villages have converged on the site," locals reported, noting that the fighter plane drew attention as it descended in flames.
This marks the third crash of a Jaguar fighter jet within this year. Previously, a Jaguar went down in Panchkula, Haryana on March 7, and another incident occurred near Jamnagar, Gujarat on April 2.
The Jaguar is a twin-engine ground-attack fighter-bomber, available in both single and twin-seat configurations.
Despite its age, these aircraft continue to serve within the IAF and have undergone significant upgrades over the years.