Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on Monday dismissed reports of any ‘major damage’ to a Tejas jet of the Indian Air Force (IAF) , calling it a “minor technical incident on ground”.Refuting the earlier reports it said, “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.”Further assuring the safety record of Tejas jets, it added, “LCA Tejas maintains one of the world’s best safety records among contemporary fighter aircraft. As a standard operating procedure, the issue is being analysed in depth and HAL is working closely with the Indian Air Force (IAF) for a speedy resolution.”The statement comes after earlier media reports claimed that a Tejas light combat aircraft of IAF’s sustained major damage to its airframe after it overshot the runway at a frontline airbase following a suspected brake failure on February 7. According to earlier reports, the pilot of the aircraft had ejected safely.Tejas has been involved in two incidents in the past. The first incident occurred in March 2024, when a Tejas jet crashed near Jaisalmer. The second took place in November 2025, when another Tejas jet crashed during an aerial display at the Dubai Airshow.In February 2021, the ministry of defence signed a Rs 48,000 crore contract with HAL for the procurement of 83 Tejas Mk-1A jets for IAF. Deliveries have since faced delays, largely due to GE Aerospace missing multiple deadlines for supplying the aero engines that power the aircraft.In September last year, the defence ministry finalised another Rs 62,370 crore deal with HAL to procure 97 additional Tejas Mk-1A light combat aircraft for the IAF.The Tejas is a single-engine, multi-role fighter designed to operate in high-threat environments, capable of performing air defence, maritime reconnaissance, and strike missions.
