Indian Rafale Jet Crash in Bathinda: M88 Engine Identified, Investigation Underway
Bathinda, India – On May 7, 2025, a devastating crash involving an unidentified aircraft occurred in Aklian Kalan village, Bathinda, claiming the life of one farm laborer and injuring nine others. The aircraft, which reportedly went up in flames upon impact, left behind significant wreckage, including a large engine component. Open-source intelligence (OSINT) analysis has since identified the engine as likely being an M88, which powers the Indian Air Force’s Rafale fighter jets, based on its distinct nozzle screw pattern.
The M88 engine, produced by France’s Safran Group, is a critical component of the Dassault Rafale, a multi-role fighter jet inducted into the Indian Air Force in recent years. The identification of the engine has ruled out the possibility of it being an M53, which is used in India’s Mirage 2000 jets. This finding aligns with India’s growing fleet of Rafale jets, bolstered by a recent $7.5 billion deal signed on April 30, 2025, for 26 Rafale-M (Marine) variants. The deal, marking the first export order of the naval Rafale variant, includes provisions for local manufacturing of the aircraft’s fuselage and the establishment of Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities in India, such as the one being set up by Dassault Aviation in Uttar Pradesh.
The crash site, located in a rural agricultural area, revealed a heavily damaged engine partially embedded in the soil, surrounded by dry fields. Local authorities have yet to officially confirm the aircraft’s identity, and the cause of the crash remains under investigation. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of military operations in the region, especially given the strategic importance of the Rafale jets to India’s defense capabilities.
The Rafale’s M88 engine, known for its reliability and performance with a thrust of 75kN, is also set to play a pivotal role in India’s future defense projects. A collaborative effort between France and India is underway to develop a heavily modified version of the M88 for the fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program, as reported by the Indian Defence Research Wing. This partnership underscores the deepening defense ties between the two nations, with Safran leading the engine’s hot section development while India’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) focuses on the cold sections and MRO services.
As the investigation into the Bathinda crash continues, questions linger about the circumstances that led to the incident and its potential implications for India’s Rafale fleet. The tragedy has cast a spotlight on the challenges of maintaining advanced fighter jets, even as India pushes forward with its ambitions for self-reliance in defense manufacturing under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
