India’s Tejas fighter jet crashes again, entire fleet grounded for safety checks: reports

An Indian Air Force (IAF) Tejas combat aircraft suffered significant damage after overshooting the runway at a forward airbase earlier this month, reportedly due to a suspected brake failure, according to India Today.

Following the incident, India’s entire fleet of around 30 single-seat Tejas jets has been grounded for extensive technical inspections.

According to India Today, the crash occurred during a routine training sortie at a key operational airbase. Preliminary assessments suggested a possible technical malfunction in the aircraft’s onboard systems. The Print reported that the pilot, while injured, survived the incident.

Sources in India’s defense and security establishment told news outlets that the accident took place on February 7, and was compounded by a tyre burst that caused the aircraft to overrun the runway. It was not immediately clear whether the pilot had to eject, though sources confirmed he was safe.

The Times of India reported that the IAF has grounded the entire Tejas fleet for thorough technical checks, marking the third serious accident involving the indigenous fighter jets. The first crash occurred in March 2024 near Jaisalmer, while the second happened in November 2025 during an aerial display at the Dubai Airshow.

The latest incident comes amid delays by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the manufacturer of the Tejas, in supplying the Mark 1A variant to the IAF, raising concerns about production and safety standards for the indigenously developed fighter jet.