Following the crash of the Tejas fighter jet, several questions have surfaced regarding its safety during operations. The aircraft had recently undergone an upgrade to its next version, the Mark 2 version of Tejas, and was anticipated to receive higher orders from the Indian Air Force (IAF). Additionally, India had cleared budget approval for the development of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) Project, projected to be India’s first fifth-generation fighter jet aircraft. However, in the aftermath of this crash, the IAF has initiated an investigation to determine the cause of the accident.

A Tejas aircraft belonging to the Indian Air Force encountered a mishap during a training sortie in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, crashing within the vicinity of a student hostel compound. The incident, occurring around 2 pm, witnessed the safe ejection of the pilot, with no reported injuries on the ground.

This marks the first crash involving the indigenous jet since its maiden test flight over two decades ago in 2001. Notably, the Tejas, a lightweight combat aircraft, was integrated into the Indian Air Force fleet in 2016.

The plane descended onto the grounds near the Lakshmi Chand Sanwal Colony, adjacent to the student hostel in Jaisalmer. Promptly, the Air Force has initiated an inquiry to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“The Indian Air Force confirms the occurrence of an accident involving one Tejas aircraft during an operational training sortie in Jaisalmer today. The pilot has been successfully ejected. A thorough investigation, under a Court of Inquiry, has been set in motion to determine the root cause,” stated an official statement by the Indian Air Force.

The first squadron within the Indian Air Force to adopt the Tejas was the esteemed No. 45 Squadron, also known as the ‘Flying Daggers’, in 2016. Subsequently, the No. 18 Squadron joined the ranks in 2020, further bolstering the operational deployment of the Tejas.

Presently, the Indian Air Force has integrated 40 Tejas MK-1 aircraft into its fleet, with an additional 83 Tejas MK-1A fighters awaiting deployment as part of a procurement agreement valued at over ₹ 46,000 crore. Furthermore, in a recent development, the Defence Acquisition Council has given preliminary approval for the acquisition of 97 additional Tejas planes for the force, signaling a continued commitment to indigenous defense capabilities.

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