Indian Air Force Archives - National Times

21 Jan

IAF Trainer Aircraft Crashes into Pond in Prayagraj, Probe Underway

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiadefence news, IAF trainer aircraft, Indian Air Force, Prayagraj crash, Uttar Pradesh

Prayagraj, January 21, 2026: A trainer aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed into a pond in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj district on Wednesday, triggering an immediate response from emergency agencies and defence authorities.Officials said details regarding the exact cause of the crash, the precise location, and the condition of those on board are yet to be confirmed. They added that more information would be shared after preliminary assessments are completed.Rescue operations were launched soon after the incident, with teams from the local administration and emergency services rushing to the spot. The Indian Air Force has also initiated standard procedures…

01 Jan

Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor Assumes Charge as Vice Chief of the Air Staff

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaAir Marshal Nagesh Kapoor, Indian Air Force, Vice Chief of the Air Staff

New Delhi, January 1, 2026: Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor SYSM PVSM AVSM VM on Thursday took over as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force, marking a key leadership transition at Air Headquarters. The appointment was confirmed in an official statement issued by the Ministry of Defence. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Air Marshal Kapoor was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Flying Branch on December 6, 1986. Over a career spanning nearly four decades, he has established himself as an accomplished fighter pilot, a Qualified Flying Instructor and a Fighter Combat…

21 Nov

Tejas Fighter Jet Bursts Into Flames at Dubai Air Show, IAF Pilot Dies in Crash

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaDubai Air Show, Indian Air Force, Tejas crash, Wing Commander Namansh Syal

Dubai/New Delhi: An Indian Air Force Tejas light combat aircraft crashed during a demonstration at the Dubai Air Show on Friday, resulting in the death of the pilot and bringing the final day of the event to a tragic halt. The aircraft went down around 2:10 pm local time near the Al Maktoum International Airport as it executed an aerial manoeuvre.Eyewitnesses reported that the jet dipped suddenly during its routine display, struck the ground, and exploded into a massive fireball. Thick black smoke rose over the venue as emergency teams from the UAE rushed to contain the blaze and secure…

06 Nov

India Rescues 270 Citizens from Cyber Scam Networks in Myanmar, Returns Them via Thailand

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiacyber scam Myanmar, India rescue mission, Indian Air Force, Thai repatriation

New Delhi, November 6, 2025 — In a major humanitarian operation, India has rescued and repatriated 270 of its citizens, including 26 women, who had been trapped in cyber scam centres operating in Myanmar’s Myawaddy region. The group was brought back from Thailand’s Mae Sot town on Thursday through a coordinated effort by the Indian Embassy in Bangkok and the Consulate in Chiang Mai, with the help of Thai authorities. Two special Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft were deployed to bring them home safely.Officials said the rescued individuals had been detained by Thai police for illegally crossing the border from…

21 Sep

Haryana CM Inspires Youth at Hisar Air Show, Hails IAF’s Valor and Discipline

Balwinder Singh0 CommentsHaryanaHaryana CM Nayab Singh Saini, Hisar Air Show, Indian Air Force

Hisar, September 21 – Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Saturday urged the youth to pursue their dreams with dedication, discipline, and hard work, stating that today’s young generation will be the pride of the Indian Armed Forces and bring glory to the nation.Addressing the audience at the Maharaja Agrasen Airport in Hisar, during an air show organized jointly by the GOC Dot Division and Hisar district administration, CM Saini highlighted the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) key role in safeguarding the nation. The prestigious Surya Kiran Aerobatics Team of the IAF performed a series of breathtaking maneuvers, demonstrating skill,…

02 Aug

India Receives Final C-295 Aircraft from Spain, Boosting Defence Modernisation Drive

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TechnologyAirbus Defence and Space, C-295 aircraft, defence modernisation, Indian Air Force

National Times Bureau, Aug 2 , 2025: India received the last of the 16 Airbus C-295 military transport aircraft from Spain on Saturday, marking a key milestone in its ongoing military modernisation programme. The aircraft, known for its 5-10 tonne capacity and modern capabilities, is set to replace the ageing Avro fleet currently used by the Indian Air Force.The final aircraft was handed over at the Airbus Defence and Space assembly line in Seville. Indian Ambassador to Spain Dinesh K Patnaik and senior IAF officials were present to receive the delivery. The Indian Embassy in Spain highlighted that the delivery…

09 Jul

Jaguar Fighter Jet Crashes in Rajasthan, Claims Lives of Two IAF Pilots

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaChuru, IAF pilots killed, Indian Air Force, Jaguar fighter jet, plane crash, Rajasthan

Churu (Rajasthan), July 9, 2025 — A routine training mission turned tragic on Wednesday when a Jaguar fighter jet of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed in Rajasthan’s Churu district, resulting in the death of two pilots on board.The aircraft, identified as a twin-seater trainer version of the Jaguar, had taken off from Suratgarh air base earlier in the day. It went down around 1:25 pm, crashing into an agricultural field near Bhanoda village, according to SHO Rajaldesar, Kamlesh.Though the IAF has not yet released the names of the deceased pilots, it confirmed in an official statement that both personnel…

09 Jul

Indian Air Force Fighter Jet Crashes in Rajasthan’s Churu; Two Injured

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingIndian Air Force, Rajasthan

Churu, Rajasthan (National Times): In a shocking incident, an Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter jet crashed in Rajasthan’s Churu district on Wednesday, injuring two individuals. The crash has once again raised concerns over flight safety, coming just over a month after the deadliest aviation tragedy in India’s history—the Air India crash in Ahmedabad, which claimed over 240 lives. The IAF jet reportedly went down in a sparsely populated area near Churu town. Eyewitnesses described seeing a plume of smoke followed by a loud explosion as the aircraft hit the ground. Emergency teams rushed to the site immediately. This crash is…

29 Jun

Row Erupts Over Indian Defence Attache’s Remarks on IAF Losses During Operation Sindoor

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaDefence Attache Indonesia, fighter jet losses, Indian Air Force, Operation Sindoor, Shiv Kumar

New Delhi/Jakarta, June 30, 2025 — A political controversy has erupted over remarks made by Captain Shiv Kumar, the Indian defence attache in Indonesia, who indicated that the Indian Air Force lost fighter jets during the initial phase of Operation Sindoor due to restrictions imposed by political leadership against striking Pakistani military targets.A video of Captain Kumar’s comments from a June 10 seminar in Jakarta surfaced on Sunday, prompting sharp reactions from India’s political opposition and clarifications from the Indian embassy in Indonesia.Captain Kumar, a Navy officer, had been speaking at a university seminar titled “Analysis of the Pakistan-India Air…

01 Jun

New Commander Takes Charge of Southern Air Command

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaAir Marshal Manish Khanna, Indian Air Force, Southern Air Command

National Times Bureau, June 1, 2025: Air Marshal Manish Khanna has officially taken over as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of the Southern Air Command (SAC), Indian Air Force, headquartered in Thiruvananthapuram. The command handover took place on June 1, 2025, marking a significant leadership transition in one of India's key air defence formations. He succeeds Air Marshal Balakrishnan Manikantan, who has now assumed the role of AOC-in-C of the Central Air Command.Commissioned into the fighter stream on December 6, 1986, Air Marshal Khanna brings nearly four decades of experience to his new post. A Category 'A' Qualified Flying Instructor,…