After the Tejas accident, the fleet of 30 single seat Tejas aircraft was stopped from flying.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has temporarily grounded its entire fleet of single-seat Tejas fighter aircraft following the accident on February 7. The move comes after an incident in which a HAL Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) overshot the runway and caused damage to its airframe.

According to the Press Trust of India (PTI) report, the accident occurred due to suspected brake failure. The aircraft was returning to a forward airbase after completing a training sortie when it overran the runway during landing. A senior source said that the pilot ejected in time, thereby averting a major tragedy. No official statement has been issued yet by the Air Force on this incident.

According to sources, soon after the accident, the entire fleet of about 30 single-seat Tejas aircraft was temporarily grounded for a comprehensive technical check. Expert teams are conducting a detailed investigation of the braking system and other related technical aspects.

This is the third accident involving Tejas aircraft. The first incident occurred in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan in March 2024, when a Tejas aircraft crashed while returning from a firepower demonstration. In that case also the pilot ejected safely.

The second accident occurred during an aerobatic display during the Dubai Airshow in November 2025. Wing Commander Namansh Syal had died in that accident. The video of the accident was revealed, in which the plane was seen engulfed in flames after falling on the ground. The investigation into that case is still going on.

The latest accident comes at a time when Tejas manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is already under pressure over delays in the supply of Tejas Mark-1A. In the year 2021, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh had signed a deal worth Rs 48,000 crore with HAL, under which the purchase of 83 Tejas Mk-1A aircraft was decided for the IAF.

However, deliveries have been affected due to delays in the supply of jet engines. Engine manufacturer GE Aerospace could not meet the deadline, affecting the production schedule. Subsequently, in September, the Defense Ministry signed another agreement worth Rs 62,370 crore with HAL, under which the purchase of 97 additional Tejas Mk-1A aircraft was approved.

Tejas is a single-engine multi-role fighter aircraft, designed to operate in high threat air environments. It is capable of carrying out air defence, maritime reconnaissance and strike missions. At present, the Air Force’s priority is to complete technical checks and ensure the safe return of the aircraft. The final decision on allowing the fleet to fly again will be taken only after the investigation report comes.

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