Tejas fighter jet crash: The third major accident involving a Tejas fighter jet, caused by a technical failure during landing, has raised safety concerns for the Air Force. The pilot is safe, but the reliability of this multi-billion-rupee indigenous program is now being questioned.

Tejas fighter jet crash: This month, another accident involving the Indian Air Force's Tejas fighter jet has occurred. The jet was returning to the airport after completing a training flight. During landing, a technical problem occurred, and the plane crashed. According to ANI, the incident occurred on February 7th. Today, we will detail the Tejas deal between the Indian government and HAL and the crashes of the other two jets.

The only saving grace of the crash is that the pilot ejected safely in time. He was not seriously injured. However, the jet sustained significant damage. This is believed to be the third major accident involving the Tejas since it entered service in 2016.

Immediately following the accident, the Indian Air Force took strict action and temporarily grounded the entire fleet of approximately 30 single-seat Tejas jets. All of these jets will now undergo a technical inspection and will be grounded until cleared. However, no official statement has yet been issued by the Air Force regarding the entire incident and the grounding of the jets.

Even before this, 2 accidents

The first major accident involving the Tejas fighter aircraft occurred in March 2024 near Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. The aircraft was returning from a demonstration of strength. The pilot ejected safely.

The second accident occurred during the Dubai International Air Show in November 2025. The pilot lost his life in that accident. Now, the latest accident has once again raised questions about the Tejas program.

The Indian government is betting on Tejas jets.

The Indian Air Force is betting heavily on Tejas jets to bolster its dwindling fighter squadrons. The Air Force plans to induct a total of 180 Tejas jets in various versions.

In this context, a major order for 83 Tejas Mark 1A jets was placed in 2021. The deal was valued at approximately ₹46,000 crore. Subsequently, in September 2025, the Ministry of Defense signed an agreement with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for 97 more jets. The cost of this deal was ₹62,370 crore.

How is Tejas Mark 1A jet?

The Tejas Mark 1A is an advanced version of the Tejas. It is a single-engine, advanced multi-role combat aircraft developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency. The aircraft is capable of performing a variety of tasks, including air defense, maritime surveillance, and precision strike.

The next, more advanced version of this version will be the Tejas Mark 2. Its induction in the future is expected to further enhance the Air Force's capabilities. Once all planned jets are inducted in the next 15 years, the Air Force will have approximately 40 original Tejas, approximately 180 Tejas Mark 1A, and at least 120 Tejas Mark 2 jets. In 2012, 42 fighter squadrons were approved to meet the country's security needs.

This decision was made in anticipation of a potential war with China and Pakistan. A squadron consists of 18 fighter jets. The Tejas is considered an essential part of this strategy.

PC:Zeenews