An Indian Air Force (IAF) Jaguar fighter jet crashed near Panchkula, Haryana, on Friday afternoon after taking off from the Ambala airbase. The jet went down near Baldwala village in the Morni Hills, causing panic among locals as it descended, not as part of a routine sortie but clearly out of control. Fortunately, the pilot ejected safely, steering clear of populated areas. But the bigger question looms. Why do IAF jets crash frequently?
Air Force Orders Investigation
Following the crash, the IAF confirmed the accident and ordered a Court of Inquiry to determine the cause. The probe will examine aircraft maintenance records, weather conditions, and pilot actions. More details will emerge in the coming days, but this is not an isolated incident. Routine investigations and temporary fixes won’t solve the bigger problem. Unless the root causes are addressed, these crashes will persist. Routine flights will keep turning into high-risk operations.
A Troubling Pattern
This crash is part of a concerning trend. Just recently, a Mirage 2000 went down in Madhya Pradesh. A MiG-29 crashed in Uttar Pradesh. Both were training sorties. The IAF is actively modernizing with discussions around acquiring F-35s from the US, yet concerns remain about the neglect of its existing fleet.
As per India Today Report, Back in 2001, India had a 3:1 advantage over Pakistan in fighter jet numbers. Today, that ratio has shrunk to 1.6:1. Meanwhile, China enjoys a 3:1 edge over the IAF. Upgrading technology is essential, but deteriorating the current fleet weakens India’s air power and strategic position.
The “Flying Coffin” Problem
The MiG-21, introduced in 1964, is still flying despite frequent mishaps, earning its grim nickname: “flying coffin.” Keeping these aging jets operational is an uphill battle. Spare parts are often scarce. Mechanical failures are rising. The Mirage 2000 faces similar issues. It was bought off-the-shelf rather than manufactured under license, leaving India reliant on a patchy global supply chain for spares.
The IAF operates a diverse mix of aircraft. Soviet-era MiG-21s and MiG-29s. French-origin Mirage 2000s and Rafales. Anglo-French Jaguars. Russian-built Sukhoi-30s. Managing maintenance, repairs, and overhauls across such a varied fleet is a logistical nightmare.
On top of that, IAF pilots undergo grueling training, often flying multiple sorties daily. Between intense drills, operational deployments, and maintenance delays, errors become more likely. A Standing Committee on Defence report found that over 50% of IAF crashes from 2017 to 2022 resulted from human error. Currently, the IAF operates 31 combat squadrons, well below the sanctioned strength of 42. This shortage increases operational strain. Jets fly more frequently. Maintenance windows shrink, thus both human and mechanical fatigue builds up.
Turning the Tide
IAF jet crashes remain a concern, but there are signs of improvement. The Standing Committee also reported a sharp decline in accident rates. From 0.93 per 10,000 flying hours between 2000 and 2005. Down to 0.27 between 2017 and 2022. Now 0.20 between 2020 and 2024. Clearly, improvements in safety protocols, pilot training, and maintenance are making a difference.
But the real game-changer in future would be self-reliance. For decades, India has depended on aging foreign aircraft, constantly scrambling for imported spare parts. That is changing. Private players and India’s homegrown defense industry are stepping up. HAL’s Tejas is just the beginning. Next in line is the AMCA, a fifth-generation stealth fighter. The vision is clear. Build, maintain, and upgrade our own jets without relying on foreign suppliers.
If India gets this right, the IAF won’t just be flying safer. It will be flying stronger.
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