A domestically developed Tejas fighter jet of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed while landing after a routine training sortie, officials confirmed on Sunday.

The pilot ejected safely and did not suffer serious injuries.

However, the aircraft sustained extensive damage and is likely to be declared unserviceable.

The IAF has ordered a high-level court of inquiry to determine the cause of the accident.

In addition, a comprehensive technical inspection of the entire Tejas fleet has been initiated to rule out any systemic fault.

The aircraft was among the 32 single-seat Tejas jets delivered to the Air Force by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the state-run aerospace manufacturer responsible for the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) program.

The incident comes at a sensitive time for the Air Force, which is already grappling with delays in the delivery of the upgraded Tejas Mark 1A variant.

The IAF has placed orders for 180 Tejas aircraft as part of efforts to strengthen its combat fleet, but production timelines have faced repeated setbacks.

This marks the third major accident involving the Tejas program in recent years.

In March 2024, a Tejas jet crashed near Jaisalmer. Another aircraft was lost during the Dubai Air Show in November 2025, in which the pilot was killed.

The series of accidents has intensified scrutiny of India’s indigenous fighter aircraft program and maintenance protocols.

Defence analysts note that while the Air Force urgently requires new aircraft to address squadron shortages, ensuring operational safety and reliability remains equally critical.

The investigation report is expected to determine the technical or operational factors behind the latest crash and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.