HAL Denies Tejas Crash Reports, Calls Incident a ‘Minor Technical Issue’

India’s state-owned aerospace manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has dismissed media reports claiming that a Tejas fighter jet crashed, stating that the incident was a “minor technical incident” on the ground.

In a statement posted on X, HAL said there had been no crash involving the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas. “There has been no reported crash of the LCA Tejas. The event in question was a minor technical incident on ground,” the company said, adding that the matter is being analysed in line with standard operating procedures.

HAL said it is working closely with the Indian Air Force (IAF) to resolve the issue swiftly.

Earlier reports of runway excursion

Earlier, several media outlets, including Press Trust of India, reported that a Tejas aircraft sustained significant structural damage after overshooting a runway at a frontline airbase on 7 February.

According to those reports, the jet was returning from a training sortie when it suffered a suspected brake failure, leading to a runway excursion. The pilot reportedly ejected safely and was not injured. The location of the incident was not disclosed.

HAL’s clarification contradicts earlier descriptions of the event as a crash, instead characterising it as a technical issue that occurred while the aircraft was on the ground.

Safety record and background

HAL said the Tejas maintains one of the strongest safety records among contemporary fighter aircraft worldwide.

The Tejas programme was designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency and is manufactured by HAL. The single-engine, multi-role fighter is capable of air defence, strike missions and maritime reconnaissance missions, and is designed to operate in high-threat combat environments.

The Indian Air Force currently operates around 30 Tejas aircraft, inducted into service from 2015.

If formally confirmed as an accident, the February incident would be the third mishap involving a Tejas aircraft. The first occurred near Jaisalmer in March 2024. A second took place during the Dubai Airshow, where a Tejas jet crashed during an aerial display and the pilot was killed.

HAL has not released further technical details but said a thorough analysis is under way in coordination with the IAF.