The Indian Air Force has once again come under scrutiny after the third major crash of the HAL Tejas LCA. This incident has renewed questions about aircraft reliability, fleet safety, and India’s overall military aviation standards, especially at a time when the country is pushing hard for indigenous defense capabilities.
A New Setback: The February 2026 Crash
The most recent crash took place on February 7, 2026, during what should have been a standard training sortie. The pilot ejected in time and survived, but the aircraft suffered severe damage. This incident led to the grounding of the entire Tejas Mk1 fleet as investigators began a detailed examination of its technical logs, onboard systems, and flight data. Emergency response was quick, and teams from both the Air Force and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited secured the crash site for analysis.
The First Tejas Crash: March 2024
The Tejas program’s first major accident happened in March 2024 near Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. The aircraft was returning from a firepower demonstration when it encountered failure. The pilot ejected safely, but this early incident served as a warning that flight-test and operational integration still required deeper refinement.
The Second Tejas Crash: Dubai Airshow, November 2025
The second—and most tragic—crash occurred on November 21, 2025, during an aerobatic display at the Dubai Airshow. The jet went down during a maneuver, costing the life of its experienced pilot. This crash was witnessed internationally, bringing global attention to the Tejas program’s maturing phase and its safety challenges.
A Broader Issue: IAF’s Long-Standing Safety Concerns
These Tejas crashes exist within a larger context: the IAF’s historically troubled safety record. Over decades, the Air Force has lost numerous aircraft in non-combat situations, especially older platforms like the MiG-21. Factors contributing to this reputation include maintenance stress, high operational tempo, infrastructure limitations, and long service life of aging fighters. Despite improvements in recent years, the legacy of frequent accidents still shadows the force and shapes public perception. Every modern aircraft crash—especially an indigenous one—adds pressure to strengthen safety oversight and maintenance discipline.
Impact on IAF Operations
With the Tejas fleet still relatively small, every crash directly affects squadron availability. After the February 2026 crash, grounding the fleet meant delays in routine training flights and temporary adjustment of mission planning. Tejas-equipped squadrons, already operating with limited numbers, face additional strain when even a single airframe is lost. The psychological impact on pilots is another real factor, as confidence in equipment is essential in combat aviation.
Consequences for Upgraded Variants
The Tejas Mk1A program, intended to deliver improved avionics, radar, electronic warfare systems, and better maintainability, is already facing production delays. Repeated crashes may push timelines further, as safety investigations often require design reviews and potential hardware or software modifications. Future platforms like the Aeronautical Development Agency-driven Tejas Mk2 and India’s upcoming AMCA also depend on the credibility and lessons learned from the current fleet’s performance. Setbacks at this stage can indirectly influence development confidence and resource allocation for these future systems.
Global Perception and Export Implications
India has been actively promoting the Tejas as an export-ready fighter for friendly nations seeking cost-effective multirole jets. Countries evaluating the aircraft closely observe safety history, reliability, and post-crash transparency. High-visibility accidents, especially the Dubai crash, inevitably influence buyer confidence. Although early-stage fighters worldwide experience teething issues, international customers expect swift corrective action and strong evidence that faults have been addressed thoroughly.
Learning from the Crashes
Each incident triggers a detailed investigation to understand whether the crashes stemmed from isolated defects, design issues, maintenance gaps, or procedural shortcomings. These findings help engineers refine airframe structure, avionics software, flight-control logic, and emergency systems. Pilots may receive updated simulator modules for handling rare or extreme scenarios. Maintenance crews may adopt revised inspection routines. Such corrective actions, though invisible to the public, play a powerful role in maturing any fighter aircraft.
A Critical Moment for the Tejas Program
With three crashes in less than two years, the Tejas program stands at a crucial point. India’s aspiration to field a fully indigenous fighter fleet requires rigorous transparency, disciplined engineering fixes, and a deep commitment to safety culture across the Air Force. Crashes do not define a fighter program—but the response to them does. If the investigations lead to decisive reforms, the Tejas can still achieve the reliability and respect necessary to serve as a dependable frontline fighter for decades.
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