An IAF Dassault Rafale crashed in Aklian Kalan, Bathinda. One person on the ground was killed as a result of the crash.
The pilot ejected safely and was taken to a hospital.
Eyewitnesses and photographic evidence of the wreckage, including pylon mounts, missile parts, and engine debris, confirmed the downed aircraft as a Rafale.
Following the impact, the jet’s ammunition detonated in a secondary explosion, scattering debris and causing additional casualties.
Local police in Punjab were the first to report the crash, followed by the fire services. By daybreak, Indian Army and Air Force units arrived on site, established temporary shelters, and began recovering wreckage.
One civilian, identified only as a migrant worker named Govind from Haryana, died in the blast. Villagers said Govind had come to assist with wheat harvesting and was recording video near the wreck when the munitions exploded. “He came too close to the crash site with his phone. The plane ignited and then suddenly exploded. He died instantly,” a resident told reporters. Nine others sustained burn injuries.
The pilot survived the crash and was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment, Indian officials said.
“This is the first time that one of the most advanced French-made fighter jets has been destroyed in combat,” the official stated.
Speaking to CNN, the French official acknowledged that authorities in France are closely analysing the situation and assessing the extent of damage caused to the Indian Air Force’s fleet.
The incident occurred just hours after the Indian Air Force launched strikes on targets inside Pakistan, in retaliation for a recent terrorist attack in Kashmir that killed 26.
While Pakistan has claimed to have shot down five Indian aircraft, only one confirmed loss—a Rafale involved in the night raid—has been acknowledged so far.
