Unidentified aircraft crashes in Punjab’s Bathinda; 1 killed, 9 injured amid Op Sindoor

An unidentified aircraft crashed in the wheat fields of Akalia Kalan village in Bathinda district at around 1:30 am on Wednesday, killing one civilian and injuring nine others. The crash occurred on the same night as the launch of Operation Sindoor by India, prompting panic among the villagers. The injured were taken to the Civil Hospital in Bathinda and are currently undergoing treatment.

The deceased has been identified as Govind, a farm labourer from Charkhi Dadri in Haryana. He had come to the area for the wheat harvest and was staying near the crash site. According to villagers, he was the first to reach the wreckage and was attempting to record a video when an explosion occurred, killing him instantly. Nine others who approached the crash site also sustained burn injuries and were rushed to a government hospital in Goniana town.

Eyewitnesses said they heard a loud noise around 1:30 am and saw a fiery object in the sky. “When the villagers came out of their houses, they noticed something flying and engulfed in fire,” said a resident named Jaspal Singh (name changed). He added that the aircraft crashed in two parts—one section fell in a separate location within the village while the other landed in the fields. Singh also said that both pilots appeared to have ejected safely and were found in Ganga village, about 5 to 6 km away.

Punjab Police were the first to be alerted after the crash, and fire brigade units followed shortly after. Army and Air Force personnel reached the site before sunrise, cordoned off the area, and began collecting the debris. A canopy was set up by the Air Force at the crash location. Akalia Kalan village lies just 20 km from the Bhisiana Air Force Station in Bathinda. The crash site remains under heavy security as defence officials continue their investigation.

There has been no official statement from the Indian Air Force, Army, or Ministry of Defence regarding the origin of the aircraft or the nature of the crash. Bathinda Senior Superintendent of Police Amneet Kondal and Deputy Commissioner Showkat Ahmad Parray were not available for comment. Bathinda Police PRO, senior constable Malwinder Singh, confirmed the crash and said nine people were injured but could not comment further without official defence confirmation.