4th-generation serviceman, IAF pilot killed in Jamnagar crash days after engagement

Jamnagar: An Indian Air Force pilot who lost his life in a Jaguar fighter jet crash in Jamnagar had recently gotten engaged to a woman from Delhi on March 23, with their wedding planned in the coming months, his family revealed.

The aircraft, carrying two pilots on a night training mission, crashed around 9:30 pm on Wednesday shortly after taking off from Jamnagar Airfield, according to the IAF. The crash occurred in an open field in Suvarda village, about 12 km from Jamnagar city, and the jet caught fire. While one pilot sustained injuries and is undergoing treatment, Flight Lieutenant Siddharth Yadav tragically lost his life.

Siddharth, a native of Majra Bhalkhi village in Haryana’s Rewari district, joined the Indian Air Force in 2017. He hailed from a family of servicemen—his father, Sushil Kumar, retired from the IAF, while both his grandfather Raghubir Singh and great-grandfather served in the Indian Army. He is survived by his father, mother Sushila Devi, and younger sister Khushi.

The IAF stated that the pilots encountered a technical malfunction and ejected, ensuring no harm came to the airfield or local population. Expressing his pride, Siddharth’s father said, “He sacrificed his life to save others.” He also shared that Siddharth was a bright student who joined the National Defence Academy in 2016 and was the fourth generation in their family to serve in the armed forces.

The IAF expressed deep regret over the loss and extended support to the bereaved family while ordering a Court of Inquiry to investigate the cause of the accident. Meanwhile, the injured pilot, who suffered a fractured leg, is in stable condition at Guru Gobind Singh Government Hospital in Jamnagar.

Earlier, on March 7, another Jaguar fighter jet crashed near Ambala, Haryana, during a routine sortie, though the pilot ejected safely. DeshGujarat