New Delhi, April 3 -- A two-seater Jaguar aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed during a night mission shortly after taking off from Jamnagar Airfield, the IAF stated on Thursday.

According to the statement by IAF's Media Co-ordination Centre on X, the pilots encountered a technical malfunction mid-flight and ejected to avoid damage to the airfield and nearby populated areas.

The IAF further stated that one of the pilots tragically succumbed to injuries sustained during the ejection, while the second pilot is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Jamnagar.

"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 ...