On February 23, 2026, the Indian Air Force (IAF) grounded its entire fleet of approximately 30 HAL Tejas fighter jets following a crash on February 7, which resulted in significant airframe damage during landing at a frontline airbase. The incident, attributed to a suspected brake failure and compounded by a tyre burst, occurred during a routine training sortie. Preliminary assessments suggested a possible technical malfunction in the aircraft’s onboard systems. While the pilot ejected safely, he sustained injuries, raising ongoing safety concerns regarding the aircraft. This marks the third crash involving the Tejas since its induction into the IAF, further alarming officials about the aircraft's reliability and the future of India's indigenous fighter jet program (Nukta Latest, The Hindu).
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Indian Air Force Grounds Hal Tejas Fleet After Crash
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On Feb 23, 2026, the IAF grounded its HAL Tejas fleet after a crash linked to brake failure. This marks the third incident, raising safety concerns and delaying advanced variants amid ongoing reviews.
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