Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: A recent incident involving India&rsquo;s indigenous Tejas Light Combat Aircraft has renewed scrutiny of the program&rsquo;s safety record and long-term reliability, marking the third serious mishap since the aircraft entered operational service.&nbsp;According to Indian media reports citing defense officials, a Tejas fighter jet overshot a runway earlier this month and veered into a ditch during landing after a suspected brake failure. The single-seat aircraft was operating on a routine training sortie. The pilot survived but sustained injuries. The incident was not publicly disclosed at the time.&nbsp;Officials told local outlet, The Print, the accident occurred on February 7 at a major Indian Air Force base during the landing phase. India&rsquo;s defense ministry has so far issued no official statement regarding the episode.&nbsp;The runway incident adds to a growing list of setbacks for the Tejas program. In March 2024, a Tejas jet crashed near Jaisalmer while returning from a firepower demonstration. The pilot ejected safely, but the aircraft was destroyed. In November 2025, another Tejas was lost during an aerobatic display at the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/indian-fighter-jet-crashes-at-dubai-airshow" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dubai Airshow</a> after reportedly losing control, killing Wing Commander Namannsh Syal.&nbsp;The Tejas, developed by India&rsquo;s Aeronautical Development Agency and produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the Indian Air Force and Navy, is a single-engine, 4.5-generation multirole fighter. It first flew in 2001 and was inducted into service in 2015, after years of delays.&nbsp;While Indian officials continue to describe Tejas as a cornerstone of the country&rsquo;s self-reliance drive in defense manufacturing, aviation analysts say the pattern of incidents is drawing attention within the global pilot and aerospace community.&nbsp;&ldquo;Repeated non-combat losses inevitably raise questions about systems maturity,&rdquo; a former Western test pilot familiar with light fighter programs said. &ldquo;Brake reliability, flight control software, and maintenance integration are all areas that tend to surface when an aircraft is pushed into regular operations.&rdquo;&nbsp;Defense observers further point out that single-engine fighter aircraft inherently operate with narrower safety margins. Without propulsion redundancy, they say, any system malfunction, especially during critical phases like landing, can quickly escalate into a serious incident.&nbsp;Analysts stress that while this does not automatically indicate a flawed design, it places significantly higher demands on reliability, maintenance standards, and pilot workload management.&nbsp;Observers say the lack of transparency surrounding recent incidents may further complicate confidence in the program, particularly as India seeks to market the Tejas internationally.&nbsp;Once promoted as a symbol of India&rsquo;s technological leap in combat aviation, the Tejas program is now confronting renewed debate over sustainability, operational efficiency, and safety. Questions that are likely to intensify unless addressed openly by authorities.

India

Aviation analysts flag recurring Tejas incidents, citing system maturity challenges, single-engine operational risks, and rising concerns over maintenance standards, transparency and long-term fleet reliability

Third Tejas mishap reignites concerns over India’s homegrown fighter jet

ISLAMABAD: Indian aircraft manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd said on Monday that the deadly crash of its Tejas light combat aircraft at the Dubai Airshow on Nov. 21 will not disrupt production or derail the company&#39;s export ambitions. In an official statement, the aircraft manufacturer described Friday&#39;s incident as an &quot;isolated occurrence.&quot; It said production and delivery schedules would remain on track. An Indian Air Force pilot died when his Tejas fighter crashed during an exhibition flight at the international aviation showcase on Nov. 21. Witnesses reported the jet spiraled out of control during a close-to-ground flight sequence before exploding on impact. Authorities confirmed no bystanders were harmed. Military investigators have opened a formal inquiry into the cause of the mishap. HAL and General Electric, the firm that manufactures the jet&#39;s engine, said they would provide complete assistance to the probe. &quot;We remain steadfast in our commitment to both the investigation process and the program&#39;s continued advancement,&quot; the company said. &quot;The accident will not alter our manufacturing capacity or international market strategy.&quot; This represents the program&#39;s second major mishap, following a 2024 incident on Indian soil in which the aviator survived. About the Tejas program The fighter jet represents India&#39;s homegrown answer to its reliance on foreign military hardware, aimed explicitly at replacing deteriorating Soviet-designed warplanes. General Electric turbines power the single-engine jets, which HAL markets to nations requiring affordable modern combat capability. Government approval for the Light Combat Aircraft initiative came in 1983, with the Aeronautical Development Agency formed the following year to oversee development. The objective was to create a domestic alternative to the air force&#39;s obsolete MiG-21 inventory. Initial flight testing occurred on Jan. 4, 2001, when the first experimental model took to the skies. The then-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee selected the Sanskrit designation two years later: &quot;Tejas,&quot; which translates variously as brilliance, fire, or radiance. Government communications at the time talked about the symbolic importance of the indigenous aerospace achievement, as reported by local Indian media. Operational squadrons began receiving aircraft in July 2016, marking the conclusion of a development cycle spanning more than three decades. The aircraft The crashed aircraft was identified as a Tejas Mark 1, representing HAL&#39;s baseline combat aircraft. Military procurement records show it came from an initial 40-unit order cleared for full operational deployment. Factory deliveries for this contract spanned 2016 through 2021, suggesting the aircraft had accumulated multiple years of flight operations. Current operations and market impact No foreign air forces currently fly the aircraft type. Indian military branches, both air force and naval aviation, represent the sole operators worldwide. Company executives insisted their financial stability and underlying business strength remained intact despite the setback. However, share prices declined 3% through Monday&#39;s closing bell, with the stock continuing to trade lower.

It described the Dubai Airshow incident as an 'isolated occurrence,' insisting the production and delivery schedules would remain on track.

Indian aircraft maker says deadly crash won't derail Tejas fighter jet program

Web Desk/AFP

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;An Indian fighter jet crashed during a flying display at the Dubai Airshow on Friday, killing the pilot, a government statement said.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;The warplane executed a low roll before crashing in flames about 1.6 kilometres from the show site, an eyewitness told AFP. <div class="fr-embed instagram-embed" style="width: 50%; display: block; max-width: 600px;"><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRUU0q0DeK5/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=540&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com&rp=%2Farticles%2F2325#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A836545%2C%22ls%22%3A541%2C%22le%22%3A1479%7D" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="1107" scrolling="no" style="background: white; max-width: 540px; width: calc(100% - 2px); border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219); box-shadow: none; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div>&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&quot;A Tejas fighter aircraft from India participating in today&#39;s flying display at the Dubai Airshow has crashed, resulting in the tragic death of the pilot,&quot; Dubai&#39;s state-run media office posted on X.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Videos circulating on social media showed the aircraft going down at speed and bursting into a ball of flames on impact as onlookers watched in shock.&nbsp;A plume of smoke billowed from the crash site as emergency vehicles sped towards it.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;The incident happened on the last day of the Middle East&#39;s biggest airshow, which features a flying display each afternoon.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Hundreds of people were watching from a grandstand, while the apron was packed with planes, helicopters and other hardware on static display. The Indian Air Force announced an inquiry into the accident.&nbsp;&quot;IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief,&quot; a statement said.<div class="fr-embed"><div> </div></div>It is believed to be the first crash in the history of the airshow, which dates back to 1986. Chronic issues with Tejas program The HAL Tejas light combat aircraft program has been beset by a series of chronic issues since its inception. It has faced prolonged delays, safety concerns, and quality issues. Its development alone took over three decades, with delays caused by supply chain disruptions, reliance &nbsp;on foreign engines like GE F404, and technical problems highlighted by accidents and safety incidents.&nbsp;The Indian government and auditors have criticized HAL for poor manufacturing quality, incomplete features and failure to meet deadline. It also faces organizational inefficiencies, slow decision-making, and dependency on foreign suppliers, which has hampered production and delivery. Oil leak controversy precedes crash Earlier in the week, a video circulated online showing ground crew placing a shopping bag beneath a Tejas aircraft to collect dripping fluid. Critics seized on the footage to question the fighter jet&#39;s reliability. it also triggered widespread mocking about Tejas&#39;s reliability across social media. Indian air force officials maintained that the aircraft continued its scheduled flight displays without technical malfunctions related to the alleged leak. Meanwhile, the Indian Ministry of Defence and the Press Information Bureau subsequently issued official statements claiming the oil leak was a&nbsp;&quot;false propaganda.&quot; Officials identified the fluid as water condensation, which they described as normal in humid conditions. Indian airforce officers spotted at Pakistani pavilion&nbsp; In a separate incident that generated widespread social media discussion, photos and videos showed Indian air force and navy officers visiting the Pakistan air force pavilion at the airshow. The images captured uniformed Indian personnel examining Pakistan&#39;s JF-17 Thunder Block III fighter jet on static display, taking photographs and engaging with Pakistani air force personnel about the aircraft&#39;s technical specifications and capabilities. Pakistani personnel reportedly offered the Indian delegation tea, a gesture observers noted carried symbolic weight following the&nbsp;2019 Balakot&nbsp;incident. After Indian air force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman was captured by Pakistan following the Balakot airstrikes that year, Pakistani officials famously offered him tea, footage of which became widely circulated. Several local news outlets in India and Pakistan reported the Indian officers at the Dubai airshow politely declined the tea, opting for water instead.

The aircraft is believed to be the Indian Tejas, India’s domestic light aircraft project  that has faced delays and technical setbacks since the 1980s.    

Indian fighter jet crashes at Dubai Airshow, killing pilot

MUMBAI: India&#39;s state-owned aeronautics firm said Friday it had inked an agreement with US company General Electric to acquire over 100 engines for its domestically designed and built Tejas fighter jets. The deal comes at a time when ties between the US and India have come under strain over President Donald Trump&#39;s decision to impose harsh tariffs as punishment for New Delhi&#39;s purchases of Russian oil. The two nations have yet to secure a trade deal, although Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have adopted a more conciliatory tone on bilateral ties after relations plummeted in August. Over 100 engines&nbsp;On Friday, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) said the pact would see GE Aerospace supply 113 engines for an advanced version of the Tejas fighter referred to as Mk1A. &quot;The engine deliveries would be from 2027 to 2032,&quot; HAL said in a statement posted on social media platform X, without offering details on the contract&#39;s value.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1986776331955437654&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fsections%2F&sessionId=573f2936ea17d6b6d8659866035da40d90bb8df9&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 594px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="1986776331955437654"></iframe></div></div>The announcement comes a little over a month after India placed a $7 billion order with HAL for 97 light combat aircraft Mk1A. Arms import&nbsp;One of the world&#39;s largest arms importers, India has made the modernization of its forces a top priority and has made repeated pushes to boost domestic production.

The deal comes at a time when ties between the US and India have come under strain over President Donald Trump's decision to impose harsh tariffs as punishment for New Delhi's purchases of Russian oil.

Articles tagged with "Tejas fighter jets"

Third Tejas mishap reignites concerns over India’s homegrown fighter jet

Indian aircraft maker says deadly crash won't derail Tejas fighter jet program

Indian fighter jet crashes at Dubai Airshow, killing pilot

India buying over 100 GE engines for its Tejas fighter jets

Third Tejas mishap reignites concerns over India’s homegrown fighter jet