IAF grounds entire fleet of Tejas jets for technical inspections after aircraft overshoots runway during landing
An Indian Air Force (IAF) light combat aircraft, the Tejas, overshot the runway during landing. Initial investigations suggest brake failure. Sources said that the incident occurred on February 7th. Details have now emerged.
The aircraft was returning to the airbase after a training flight. Upon landing, the pilot attempted to apply the brakes. When the brakes failed, the aircraft overshot the runway. The pilot ejected safely before the crash. The aircraft sustained damage. The exact airbase where the accident occurred was not immediately known.
Pilot successfully ejected
While the aircraft is expected to be written off due to the extent of the damage, officials confirmed that the pilot successfully ejected and avoided serious injury. The fighter was part of the initial delivery of 32 single-seat LCA Mk1 jets produced by state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). In response to the mishap, the IAF has ordered a high-level court of inquiry to determine if the cause was technical or operational.
Sources stated that following the incident, the Air Force grounded its entire fleet of approximately 30 single-seat Tejas jets for technical inspections. This means the aircraft will not fly until the investigation is complete. There has been no official statement from the IAF on the accident.
This is the third accident involving the Tejas jet. The first occurred in March 2024, when a Tejas jet crashed near Jaisalmer. The second accident occurred in November 2025 when a Tejas jet crashed during an aerial display at the Dubai Airshow.
The IAF faces significant delays in receiving the more advanced Mk1A variant. Despite an order for 180 of these upgraded jets to bolster shrinking squadron strengths, HAL has missed several delivery deadlines.