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Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has denied reports that a Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas had crashed, describing the incident instead as a minor technical issue on the ground. The clarification comes as the Indian Air Force prepares for a key assessment of the delayed Tejas Mk1A variant in April.
The HAL said media reports suggesting a crash were incorrect and that the aircraft had not been involved in any such accident. “HAL acknowledges the recent media reports on the LCA Tejas incident and wishes to provide factual clarification. There has been no reported crash of the LCA Tejas. The event in question was a minor technical incident on ground,” the company said.
HAL added that the Tejas fleet continues to maintain a strong safety record among contemporary fighter aircraft. The matter, it said, is being examined in coordination with the Air Force as part of standard procedures, with the aim of resolving the issue quickly.
The clarification comes amid heightened scrutiny within the IAF following the loss of a third Tejas aircraft earlier this month, which led to additional technical checks across the fleet, according to sources. HAL’s statement did not address reports claiming that the aircraft is damaged beyond repair.
The LCA Tejas “maintains one of the world’s best safety records among contemporary fighter aircraft,” and that, as part of standard operating procedure, the issue is being analysed in depth in coordination with the IAF for a speedy resolution, HAL said.
Third Tejas loss
Earlier this month, the IAF lost another Tejas fighter at a key operational air base while the aircraft was landing after a routine training sortie. A preliminary assessment indicated a suspected technical glitch, possibly linked to an onboard systems failure.
The aircraft suffered heavy airframe damage and may eventually be written off. The pilot ejected safely and suffered injuries.
It was the third Tejas aircraft lost since induction. The first crash occurred near Jaisalmer in March 2024, when a fighter returning from a firepower demonstration went down; the pilot ejected safely. The second incident took place during an aerobatic display at the Dubai Airshow in November 2025, in which the pilot was killed. An inquiry into that crash is still underway.
With the fleet undergoing enhanced checks, attention has now shifted to the long-delayed Mk1A programme.
Assessment for Mk1A
The IAF is expected to conduct a critical evaluation of the Tejas Mk1A in April, after which a final decision on induction will be taken.
The exercise is intended to accelerate deliveries without compromising combat capability. According to sources, the Air Force may consider limited relaxations on certain secondary features, but core operational requirements remain unchanged.
HAL’s Chairman and Managing Director recently said that five Tejas Mk1A aircraft are ready and that discussions are underway with the IAF regarding their acceptance. However, induction into frontline squadrons will only follow the Air Force’s mandated assessment and acceptance process.
Sources said missile firing trials have already been completed. Certification related to radar and electronic warfare integration, along with overall weapons validation, is moving towards final clearance. The IAF is expected to review the full certification data set during the April evaluation.
Once certification is complete, the Air Force will begin acceptance trials that could run for several weeks. Only after those are cleared will the aircraft be inducted into operational squadrons.
Delays and Squadron Pressures
The Tejas Mk1A programme is running close to 2 years behind schedule, with HAL attributing much of the delay to constraints on engine supply. The Air Force, which has ordered 180 Mk1A fighters, is awaiting their induction at a time when its fighter squadron strength remains under pressure.
For now, HAL’s categorical denial of any fresh crash appears aimed at containing immediate concerns. The more decisive test for the programme will come in April, when the Air Force weighs operational urgency against its core combat requirements.
BharatShakti
