Old Image Of IAF Trainer Aircraft Crash In Odisha Going Viral As The IAF Jaguar Aircraft That Crashed In Rajasthan Recently.

On 9 July 2025, a Jaguar trainer aircraft crashed into a field near Churu in Rajasthan killing two Indian Air Force pilots. Against this backdrop, an image of a crashed plane went viral on social media claiming it to be the aircraft that crashed in Churu. 

Instagram Link | Archived Link.

However, as we investigated, we came to know that the claim was misleading. The viral image is old and unrelated to the recent IAF Jaguar crash. Here’s the fact check.

Fact Check 

We started our investigation by conducting a reverse image search. This led us to a report published in The Telegraph on 4 June 2015 which contained an image similar to the viral photo. According to the report, the image shows an Indian Air Force trainer Aircraft that crashed near Kudurshahi in Mayurbhanj, Odisha on 3 June 2015. The two pilots managed to come out before the aircraft hit the ground and burst into flames.

Archived Link

Moving forward, we found another report, containing the viral image, published on 3 June 2015. The report read, “An advanced jet trainer aircraft of the Air Force crashed in a paddy field at Kudarsahi in Mayurbhanj district on Wednesday, leaving two pilots injured. The two pilots ejected themselves out of the aircraft before it crashed, an official said, adding one of the injured pilots has been identified as Sachin.

The advanced jet trainer aircraft crashed after flying for about 50 km from the Kalaikunda Air Base on a routine sortie, Air Force officials said.

The reason behind the crash is yet to be known and a Court of Inquiry has been ordered by the Air Force, they said.

Odisha DGP Sanjeev Marik told PTI over phone, “We have got information that one aircraft crashed in a paddy field in a village under Bisoi Police Station area.” Asit Panigrahi, Inspector General (DIG), northen range, said, “The accident took place between 1:20 pm and 1.30 pm. There is a logo of the Air Force in the aircraft.”

Other reports can be read here and here.

This makes it clear that the viral image is old and unrelated to the recent Jaguar crash in Churu, Rajasthan.

Conclusion 

From our investigation, we can say that the claim is misleading. The viral image doesn’t show the IAF Jaguar aircraft that crashed in Churu, Rajasthan recently. The image shows an IAF Jet trainer aircraft that crashed in Odisha in June 2015.