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An Indian Air Force (IAF) Tejas fighter jet overran the runway at a frontline airbase earlier this month after a suspected brake failure, causing significant structural damage. Official sources reported this on Sunday. They stated that the pilot ejected safely. The aircraft was returning to base after a training flight.
There has been no official statement from the Indian Air Force on the February 7 accident. Sources indicate that the incident has grounded the entire fleet of approximately 30 single-seat Tejas jets for a comprehensive technical inspection.
This was the third accident involving a Tejas jet. The first occurred in March 2024, when a Tejas jet crashed near Jaisalmer. The second incident occurred in November 2025, when a Tejas jet crashed during an aerobatic display at the Dubai Airshow.
Deal for 97 Tejas Mk-1A Light Combat Aircraft
This new accident comes amid delays in the Tejas Mk-1A program, with deliveries lagging by nearly two years despite the IAF placing an order for 180 Mk-1A fighter planes. Last September, the Defense Ministry signed another deal worth ₹62,370 crore to purchase 97 Tejas Mk-1A light combat aircraft. This multi-role fighter is capable of air defense, maritime reconnaissance, and strike missions.
In November last year, a Tejas fighter jet crashed in the United Arab Emirates while participating in the Dubai Airshow. The pilot, Wing Commander Namansh Syal, suffered fatal injuries and died in the crash. Horrific visuals of the crash showed the aircraft plummeting to the ground and engulfed in flames. Syal was unable to eject safely.
