India’s second Tejas fighter jet damaged in landing incident, pilot escapes unhurt

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has suffered another setback after a Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) was involved in an accident earlier this month, prompting a detailed investigation and comprehensive safety checks across the fleet.

According to reports, the incident occurred at a major air base during landing following a routine training mission. Initial assessments suggest a possible technical malfunction, potentially linked to onboard systems. As a precautionary measure, the IAF has temporarily grounded its fleet of approximately 30 single-seat Tejas aircraft to conduct extensive inspections, as per reports.

The aircraft reportedly sustained significant structural damage and is likely to be declared a total loss. The pilot ejected in time and escaped without serious injuries.

This marks the third Tejas crash since the aircraft was inducted into service. The first accident occurred near Jaisalmer in March 2024 while the jet was returning from a firepower demonstration, the pilot had safely ejected. The second crash took place during an aerobatic performance at the Dubai Airshow in November 2025, resulting in the death of the pilot. The investigation into that incident is still ongoing.

So far, the IAF has not released an official statement regarding the most recent accident.