Indian Aviation News: Pilot (Sanjay Chauhan) Killed After Air Force’s Jaguar Crashes In Gujarat
An Indian Air force (IAF) pilot was killed on Tuesday when the Jaguar fighter aircraft he was flying on a routine training mission crashed in a village in Gujarat’s Kutch district, an official said. The Air force said in a statement Air Commodore Sanjay Chauhan had taken off from the airbase in nearby Jamnagar district. “Yesterday (Tuesday) morning a Jaguar aircraft on a routine training mission from Jamnagar crashed around 10:30 am. The pilot AOC Sanjay Chauhan sustained fatal injuries during the crash,” defence spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Manish Ojha said.
About jaguar Aircraft
The Jaguar is a twin-engine, ground attack aircraft which can penetrate deep behind enemy lines on bombing runs. It has a maximum speed of 1,350 kmph or 1.3 times the speed of sound. The aircraft is ageing since it was inducted into the Indian Air Force in 1979 — almost four decades ago.
Residents of Beraja village in Mundra taluka found the debris of the aircraft and informed local authorities, including the police and the district administration. Some cattle were also found to be dead near the site
The plane’s debris was strewn on the fields near a village in Kutch, around 340 km from Ahmedabad.
A court of inquiry has been ordered into the matter.
Chauhan, aged around 50, was a decorated and highly experienced fighter pilot. “During his service, Chauhan had held several important posts such as the Commanding Officer of the Test Pilots’ School. He also commanded a fighter squadron of the IAF,” said one of the officials.
“He was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal in 2010,” he said.
Two air force pilots were killed in March after a microlight aircraft they were flying in crashed at Majuli district in Assam.
Later in April, an Mi-17 chopper crashed in Uttarakhand’s Kedarnath in April, injuring six. An IAF chopper also crash landed in Jammu and Kashmir’s Natha Top on May 23. However, all passengers and the crew were safe.
