Rajasthan, 13 March, 2024 (GNP): An Indian fighter aircraft named Tejas crashed in the grounds of a student hostel in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. This marks the first crash of the Tejas aircraft since its induction into the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 2016.
According to Indian Air Force (IAF), the incident occurred during training. Additionally, there were no reported victims nor injuries of the pilot as the he safely ejected from the aircraft,
Since its first test flight in 2001, Tejas has experienced its first mishap on Tuesday, breaking a record of over two decades of successful operations. The aircraft reportedly crashed near Lakshmi Chand Sanwal Colony around 2 pm.
The IAF has initiated an investigation into the matter to ascertain the cause of the accident.
An official statement from the IAF reads, “One Tejas aircraft of the Indian Air Force met with an accident at Jaisalmer today during an operational training sortie. The pilot ejected safely. A Court of Inquiry has been constituted to find out the cause of the accident.”
Eyewitnesses at the scene reported seeing the pilot ejecting before the aircraft crashed, causing a loud explosion.
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The aircraft caught fire following the crash. However, it remains unclear whether the aircraft was participating in the ongoing war drills in Rajasthan.
The Tejas aircraft, a symbol of India’s aviation prowess, also operates as a twin-seat trainer version and is utilized by both the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy.
The IAF’s Tejas program has been a significant milestone in indigenous defense capabilities. With the acquisition of an additional 83 Tejas MK-1A fighters, valued at over ₹36,000 crore, the IAF continues to strengthen its fleet of these advanced combat aircraft.
