Jamnagar: One of the two pilots aboard a two-seater Jaguar fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) succumbed to injuries after the jet crashed in an open field in Suvarda village, Jamnagar, on Wednesday night, the IAF confirmed early Thursday.

In a statement on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the IAF said, “An IAF Jaguar two seater aircraft airborne from Jamnagar Airfield crashed during a night mission. 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 statement added, “A Court of Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident.“

The aircraft was on a training mission when it crashed around 10 pm. Following the incident, a large convoy of police, emergency personnel, and civic administration officials rushed to the site.

The two-seater Jaguar variant, engaged in a night sortie, went down in an open field approximately 18 km from Jamnagar city, near the Kalavad highway.

Jamnagar Collector KB Thakkar stated that there were no civilian casualties, as the crash occurred in an open area. DeshGujarat