On February 22, 2026, a domestically developed Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) crashed while attempting to land after a routine training mission. The Indian Air Force confirmed that the pilot managed to eject safely and avoided serious injury, though the aircraft sustained extensive damage and is expected to be declared unserviceable. In response, the military has ordered a high-level court of inquiry and grounded the remaining Tejas fleet for a comprehensive technical inspection to identify any potential systemic flaws.
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This incident marks the third major loss for India’s indigenous fighter program in less than two years. It follows a crash near Jaisalmer in March 2024 and a fatal accident during the Dubai Air Show in November 2025. These recurring failures have placed the state-run manufacturer, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, under immense pressure. The timing is particularly critical as the Air Force is already struggling with a shrinking number of combat squadrons and significant delays in the delivery of the more advanced Tejas Mark 1A variant.
Another mighty Tejas crashed during landing, Pilot ejected safely.
While Pakistan in final stages of signing another JF-17 thunder deal with Somalia
While mighty Tejas falling like flies and Bhakts are celebrating announcement of Dhurandhar 2! Ironic pic.twitter.com/wbbtixt70H
— Faisal Ranjha (@ranjha001) February 22, 2026
While India has committed to purchasing 180 Tejas jets to modernize its aerial defense, these safety concerns are sparking a national debate over the reliability of the program. Defense analysts warn that the push for “Make in India” must not come at the cost of pilot safety or operational readiness. The investigation’s findings will be vital in determining whether the crash was caused by technical malfunction or human error.
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