Indian Air Force (IAF) has reportedly lost another HAL Tejas light combat aircraft in an accident earlier this month, with the pilot ejecting safely after the jet sustained severe damage during landing, according to Indian media reports.
Initial accounts suggested a possible technical malfunction involving onboard systems, while other reports indicated a brake failure after touchdown that may have caused a runway overrun and extensive structural damage. The exact cause of the incident remains under investigation.
The accident reportedly occurred during landing following a routine training sortie at an operational air base, and the aircraft may be declared beyond repair due to the scale of damage.
Following the incident, Indian media reported that the IAF grounded its fleet of approximately 30 single-seat Tejas aircraft to conduct detailed technical inspections and a safety review.
This marks the third reported loss of a Tejas aircraft since its induction into service. The first crash occurred near Jaisalmer in March 2024 after a demonstration sortie, with the pilot ejecting safely. A second accident was reported during an aerobatic display at the Dubai Airshow in November 2025, when pilot Namansh Syal was killed after failing to eject; an inquiry into that crash is still ongoing, according to available reports.
The latest development comes amid reported delays in the Tejas Mk-1A programme, with deliveries said to be running nearly two years behind schedule despite an order for 180 aircraft. In September last year, Ministry of Defence (India) signed a contract worth INR 623.7 billion to procure an additional 97 Tejas Mk-1A jets, described as multi-role fighters capable of air defence, maritime reconnaissance, and strike missions.
The IAF has not issued an official statement regarding the latest incident so far, according to media reports.