Churu, Rajasthan: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has identified the two pilots who tragically lost their lives in the Jaguar fighter jet crash in Rajasthan’s Churu district on Tuesday. Squadron Leader Lokendra Singh Sindhu (44), a native of Rohtak in Haryana, and Flight Lieutenant Rishi Raj Singh (23), from Pali in Rajasthan, were both killed when their twin-seater aircraft went down during a routine training mission.
The crash occurred near Bhanoda village in the Churu district on Tuesday afternoon. According to an official IAF statement, “An IAF Jaguar Trainer aircraft met with an accident during a routine training mission and crashed near Churu in Rajasthan today. Both pilots sustained fatal injuries. No damage to civil property has been reported.”
The Air Force has expressed deep condolences to the bereaved families and confirmed that a court of inquiry has been initiated to determine the cause of the crash.
This marks the third Jaguar fighter jet accident in 2025. The first took place in Haryana’s Panchkula on March 7, and the second occurred near Jamnagar, Gujarat on April 2—raising renewed concerns about the aging fleet’s operational safety.
The IAF continues to review its flight safety protocols as part of ongoing efforts to prevent further mishaps.