A day after Flight Lieutenant Siddharth Yadav lost his life in a tragic Jaguar fighter jet crash near Jamnagar, Gujarat, his brother, Abhishek Yadav, took to social media to express his grief and frustration, criticising the Indian Air Force (IAF) for continuing to operate outdated aircraft. In a strongly worded post on X (formerly Twitter), he referred to the Jaguar fleet as “relics from the 70s,” questioning their continued use despite being phased out by other nations years ago.
“Lost my brother today, a void that’ll never fill. IAF’s still flying Jaguars relics from the 70s, retired everywhere else by 2007,” wrote Abhishek Yadav in his post.
The crash occurred on the night of April 2, during a routine training sortie. The Jaguar aircraft, a deep-penetration strike jet, had taken off from Jamnagar Air Force Station. It went down around 9:30 PM near Suvarda village, approximately 12 kilometers from Jamnagar city. While one of the two pilots on board managed to eject safely, Flight Lieutenant Siddharth Yadav tragically succumbed to his injuries.
Locals reported hearing a loud explosion followed by a plume of thick smoke. Siddharth’s body was recovered at the crash site shortly after the incident.
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In a statement released on X, the Indian Air Force confirmed the crash and the launch of a Court of Inquiry to determine the exact cause. According to the IAF:
“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 the 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. A Court of Inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident.”
The Jaguar fighter jets, inducted into the Indian Air Force in the late 1970s, have served as a key part of India’s aerial strike capability. However, their prolonged use and history of accidents have sparked frequent debates about fleet modernization and pilot safety.
This latest tragedy has reignited public scrutiny over the IAF’s continued reliance on aging platforms, with many calling for accelerated upgrades and replacement of vintage aircraft to safeguard the lives of India’s air warriors.
Flight Lieutenant Siddharth Yadav, a native of Haryana, is remembered as a promising young officer who gave his life in service of the nation. The IAF, along with the entire country, mourns his loss.
