New Delhi : The Indian Air Force (IAF) has launched a comprehensive technical inspection of its Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas fleet following a landing accident earlier this month. According to a report, the incident involved a single-seat fighter jet that sustained severe damage while returning to a key air base from a routine training sortie.
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While the aircraft is expected to be written off due to the extent of the damage, officials confirmed that the pilot successfully ejected and avoided serious injury. The fighter was part of the initial delivery of 32 single-seat LCA Mk1 jets produced by state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). In response to the mishap, the IAF has ordered a high-level court of inquiry to determine if the cause was technical or operational.
This accident marks the third major loss for the indigenous Tejas program. The first occurred in March 2024 near Jaisalmer, where the pilot survived. However, a second tragic incident during the Dubai Airshow in November 2025 resulted in the death of Wing Commander Namansh Syal. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited previously described the Dubai crash as an isolated occurrence, yet this latest event has intensified scrutiny over the program’s safety protocols.
The timing of the accident is particularly critical as the IAF faces significant delays in receiving the more advanced Mk1A variant. Despite an order for 180 of these upgraded jets to bolster shrinking squadron strengths, HAL has missed several delivery deadlines. Defence analysts suggest that while the IAF remains committed to the indigenous platform, the string of accidents and production bottlenecks present a complex challenge for India’s military aviation goals.
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