The Indian Air Force (IAF) has faced significant non-combat losses over the last five years, with at least ten fighter jets destroyed in separate incidents from 2020 through November 2024, highlighting persistent concerns over aircraft safety and fleet modernization.
This figure includes the recent fatal crash of an indigenously developed Tejas fighter jet during a demonstration flight at the Dubai Air Show.
The accidents involve a range of aircraft, including aging Soviet-era models like the MiG-21 Bison (responsible for multiple fatalities), and newer platforms such as the Sukhoi Su-30 and the HAL Tejas.
The worst incident was an apparent mid-air collision in January 2023 that destroyed two jets (a Su-30 and a Mirage 2000) and killed one pilot.
While the IAF typically orders an inquiry into each “system malfunction” or accident, the recurring losses underscore the operational risks faced by the air force amidst ongoing training sorties and reliance on legacy equipment.
