Senior IAF pilot killed after aircraft crash in Gujarat's Kutch

New Delhi : In an unfortunate accident, the senior Air Officer Commanding of the Indian Air Force station in Gujarat's Jamnagar was killed Tuesday in a fighter plane crash in the Gujarat’s northwestern region.

The Jaguar fighter took off from Jamnagar and crashed in the Mundra taluk of Kutch district. Air Commodore Sanjai Chauhan suffered fatal injuries and lost his life in the crash.

Since the exact cause of the crash is not known, therefore, a court of Inquiry has been ordered to investigate the cause of accident. The IAF Jaguar was on a routine training mission and had taken off from Jamnagar in Gujarat.

When Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman visited the Jamnagar station in October, Chauhan was one of the officers who received her.

Today, before the start of press conference, Sitharaman observed a minute's silence in honour of Chauhan.

About Jaguar fighter

It's a twin-engine aircraft. India first acquired it in the 1980s, but it's been progressively upgraded since then.

This deep penetration strike aircraft can make fast, low-level dashes into enemy territory for precision strikes and bombing missions.

It's also license manufactured by Hindustan Aeronatuics Limited in Bengaluru.