Both of the aviators were killed in the crash—reigniting a debate about the continued use of outdated and aging aircraft in everyday roles.
At 1:25 pm local time on July 9, an Indian Air Force (IAF) two-seat SEPECAT Jaguar trainer jet took off from Suratgarh Air Force Station. Thirty minutes later, the plane crashed in an agricultural field near Bhanoda village in the Indian state of Rajasthan’s Churu district. Recovery teams, including IAF helicopters and civilian police and fire, were quickly dispatched to the crash site. Debris and human remains were scattered across the farmland. Both the pilot and co-pilot were killed in the crash, and their bodies have been recovered.
Is the SEPECAT Jaguar Safe to Fly?
The IAF uses the SEPECAT Jaguar for low-level ground attack missions and pilot training. Originally developed in the 1970s through an English-French collaboration project, the Jaguar has been serving with the IAF for four decades. When first procured in the late 1970s, the Jaguar was seen as a symbol of advanced strike capability. But over the years, the plane has faded into relative obscurity; it is now technologically outdated despite the IAF’s multiple upgrade efforts, geared mostly towards updating the aircraft’s avionics and targeting systems.
The July 9 crash occurred during a routine training sortie. The Jaguar is understood to have suffered an unknown malfunction before crashing into farmland. Witnesses claim to have seen the aircraft descend steeply, then burst into flames upon impact with the earth. Some eyewitness accounts have suggested that the pilots may have attempted to maneuver the aircraft away from populated areas in the moments before the crash. If true, the maneuver may have cost the pilots the time or altitude required to eject.
The aircraft itself was completely destroyed upon impact, and the aircraft debris was scattered across a wide radius. Both of the aviators were killed in the crash—reigniting a debate about the continued use of outdated and aging aircraft in everyday roles.
Wednesday’s Crash Marked the Third Jaguar Loss This Year
Nor is the July 9 crash the first such crash. Three Jaguar crashes have already been recorded in 2025—with two of the aircraft destroyed outright. In April, a Jaguar crashed in Gujarat, causing the death of one pilot. In May, another Jaguar went down in Ambala, although the pilot was able to eject safely. These back-to-back-to-back incidents indicate a troubling trend in the Jaguar’s operational reliability—raising meaningful questions about airframe fatigue, systems relevance, and the enduring airworthiness of the IAF fleet. And because the IAF still operates dozens of Jaguars, the crashes have inspired renewed scrutiny, and calls for an accelerated fleet modernization.
Numerous audit reports have already found that the poor maintenance practices, paired with the slow procurement of critical spare parts and a growing reliance on obsolete systems, has put the Jaguar fleet in a vulnerable position. Repeatedly, Jaguars have faced ongoing issues like engine flameouts, radar failures, and fuel systems malfunctions. As a corollary, pilot training is suppressed when a fleet’s airworthiness is limited, resulting in pilots less equipped to handle a finicky aircraft.
In any case, the end is near for the Jaguar fleet. The IAF will begin phasing out older Jaguars from 2028 to 2031. The remaining Jaguars, especially those with the DARIN-III upgrade, will remain in service until 2035 or so, when the entire Jaguar fleet will finally be fully retired to make way for the Tejas Mk2. In the meantime, IAF maintainers will need to do their best to keep the Jaguar fleet airworthy.
About the Author: Harrison Kass
Harrison Kass is a Senior Defense and National Security Writer at The National Interest. Kass is an attorney and former political candidate who joined the US Air Force as a pilot trainee before being medically discharged. He focuses on military strategy, aerospace, and global security affairs. He holds a JD from the University of Oregon and a master’s in Global Journalism and International Relations from NYU.
Image: Shutterstock / Aerospace Trek.
