Indian Air Force Loses Another Tejas Fighter Jet; Pilot Ejects Safely

New Delhi, February 22, 2026 — The Indian Air Force (IAF) has suffered yet another blow to its indigenous fighter programme as a Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) crashed during landing at a key air base. The aircraft went down following a routine training sortie, with the pilot ejecting safely and escaping serious injury. The jet, however, sustained extensive damage and is expected to be declared unserviceable. 
This marks the third crash involving the Tejas in just two years. The first occurred in March 2024 in Rajasthan, while the second took place at the Dubai Airshow in November 2025, claiming the life of the pilot. 
In response to the latest incident, the IAF has ordered a high-level court of inquiry and launched a comprehensive technical inspection of the entire Tejas fleet to rule out any systemic fault.  (Aaj English TV)
The accident comes at a sensitive time as the Air Force awaits the long-delayed delivery of the upgraded Tejas Mk1A variant, which has missed multiple delivery timelines. The IAF currently operates 32 single-seat Tejas Mk1 fighters manufactured by state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).  (SSBCrack)
Defence analysts warn that the series of accidents raises serious questions about the operational safety and reliability of India’s flagship indigenous fighter programme, which is already under pressure following its exclusion from the Republic Day parade and the damaged export prospects after the Dubai Airshow tragedy.