The wounds of embarrassment caused by the Tejas aircraft at the recent Dubai Air Show had not yet healed when, during a training flight, another Tejas aircraft crashed again. However, this time the pilot survived. Indian-made Tejas aircraft have become flying coffins, becoming so unreliable that one never knows when they might suddenly crash to the ground while flying. The Indian media, however, went overboard praising this aircraft.
Indian fighter jet Tejas crashed and was destroyed during the Dubai Air Show, pilot killed.
Whereas it has mostly remained limited to test flights. It has neither been used in military exercises nor participated in any war.
Their media sometimes compares it with the jointly built Pak-China fighter jet CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder, and sometimes with other countries, but they ignore the fact that the CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder has actually been used in a Pak-India conflict and has delivered excellent performance. Because it is truly a war machine that not only established its dominance over the enemy but also earned the honor of combat.
And it lived up to its standards — in fact, exceeded them.
In contrast, the “Tejas” has only been tried on Indian media. It flies, but there is no certainty whether it will even return to the ground. Then this was bound to happen.
Because the world knows: “The more publicity a product has on the package, the weaker that product is.”
Because it was merely a prototype that kept doing trial flights. Now it seems destined to become a museum piece.
So what happened — let’s see.
Another accident has occurred involving India’s locally manufactured fighter jet Tejas.
According to Indian media, the accident happened while the Tejas was landing during a training flight. The pilot narrowly escaped serious injury, but the aircraft was completely destroyed.
Indian media says this aircraft was one of the 32 planes delivered so far to the Indian Air Force.
Reports say this is the third Tejas accident: the first occurred in Jaisalmer in March 2024, and the second happened last year during the Dubai Air Show.
It is worth noting that the Indian Air Force has ordered 180 advanced version Tejas aircraft.
After consecutive accidents, the Indian Air Force grounded all Tejas fighter jets.
The Indian Air Force grounded all Tejas fighter jets after repeated accidents involving the locally built aircraft.
Indian media reports that after the February 7 incident, the Indian Air Force temporarily grounded its entire fleet of 35 operational Tejas fighter jets, and technical inspections are ongoing.
The final cause of the accident has not yet been determined, due to which the air force has ordered a complete inspection of all aircraft. These inspections include analysis of landing gear metals, examination of the electromagnetic braking system, and checks of onboard software.
In the February 7 accident, the single-seat aircraft’s pilot was injured but remained safe. Reports suggest the aircraft’s structure suffered severe damage and may be declared unserviceable.
According to Indian media, this is the third major accident involving Tejas since its induction into the Indian Air Force in 2016.
The first accident occurred in March 2024 near Jaisalmer while returning from a firepower demonstration.
The first accident occurred in March 2024 near Jaisalmer while returning from a firepower demonstration, where the pilot successfully ejected safely. The second incident occurred in November 2025 during aerial maneuvers at the Dubai Air Show, in which the pilot was also killed.
On the other hand, India’s aircraft manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) described the February 7 incident not as a crash but as a minor technical fault. According to the company, a detailed analysis is being carried out under SOPs, and it is in contact with the Indian Air Force to resolve the issue as soon as possible.
HAL states that the Tejas is considered among aircraft with one of the best safety records compared to contemporary fighter jets at the global level.
FAQ — Tejas Fighter Jet Incidents
The article discusses repeated accidents involving India’s Tejas fighter jet and concerns about its reliability.
According to reports, a Tejas aircraft crashed during the Dubai Air Show, resulting in the death of the pilot.
Reports mention at least three major incidents, including crashes in Jaisalmer (March 2024), Dubai Air Show, and a later training flight accident.
After consecutive incidents, the Indian Air Force reportedly grounded its entire fleet of Tejas fighter jets for inspection.
In one of the recent training accidents, the pilot survived with minor injuries, but the aircraft was destroyed.
Technical checks include landing gear analysis, braking systems, and onboard software evaluations.
HAL described one incident as a minor technical fault and stated that detailed investigations are ongoing.
The article contrasts Tejas with the Pakistan-China jointly developed JF-17 Thunder, highlighting combat usage claims.
The article claims Tejas has mostly been limited to test and training flights and has not seen major combat use.
The article questions the reliability and effectiveness of the Tejas program while noting ongoing investigations and mixed official responses.