New Delhi: India’s indigenous fighter jet-Tejas Light Combat Aircraft crashed while landing at a frontline airbase earlier this month. The aircraft suffered significant damage and is likely to be taken out of service,News Agency PTI reported on Sunday, citing authoritative sources.
The pilot ejected safely during the incident, which happened as the aircraft was returning from a routine training sortie. A suspected brake failure on February 7 is believed to have caused the jet to run off the runway. There has been no official comment from the IAF on the accident so far
Following the incident, the IAF grounded its entire fleet of about 30 single-seat Tejas jets. This step is to allow a thorough technical check of the aircraft.
This is the third accident involving Tejas jets since they joined the IAF in 2016. The first incident took place in March 2024. A Tejas crashed near Jaisalmer during an operational training sortie. The pilot ejected safely. The IAF then set up a Court of Inquiry to find the cause.
The second accident occurred in November 2025. A Tejas jet crashed during an aerobatic display at the Dubai Airshow. The aircraft lost control while doing a manoeuvre and went down in a steep nosedive. It burst into flames on impact. The pilot died in the crash. The IAF expressed regret over the loss and started a Court of Inquiry.
“An IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at Dubai Air Show, today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident. IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief. A court of inquiry is being constituted, to ascertain the cause of the accident,” the IAF said on X.
The latest incident has raised fresh concerns about the Tejas programme. This comes as Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), the maker of Tejas, has faced delays in supplying the advanced Tejas Mark 1A variant to the IAF.
In February 2021, the Defence Ministry signed a contract worth Rs 48,000 crore with HAL for 83 Tejas Mk-1A jets. Deliveries have been held up mainly due to delays in getting engines from GE Aerospace.
Later, in September last year, another deal worth Rs 62,370 crore was signed for 97 more Tejas Mk-1A aircraft.
The Tejas is India’s home-built single-engine fighter. It can carry out many roles, such as air defence, ground attack and maritime operations. It is meant to work in tough air environments.
The grounding will allow checks on brakes and other landing systems across the fleet. A Court of Inquiry is likely to look into the cause of the February 7 accident.
The IAF uses Tejas to boost its fighter strength with an indigenous plane. But repeated incidents have put focus on safety and reliability during this key phase of induction and upgrades.
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