Jaisalmer/New Delhi: A Tejas aircraft of the Indian Air Force Tejas fighter jet crashes into the premises of a student hostel in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer during a training flight. The pilot ejected successfully, and no injuries were recorded on the ground.
This is the first accident of the indigenous jet since its initial test flight 23 years ago in 2001. Light combat aircraft Tejas was inducted into the Indian Air Force in 2016.
At around 2 pm, the Tejas fighter jet crashes in the grounds of a student hostel near Lakshmi Chand Sanwal Colony in Jaisalmer. The pilot ejected safely, according to the Air Force, which has requested an investigation into the incident.
Tejas fighter jet crashes in Rajasthan; pilot safe.
“A Tejas aircraft of the Indian Air Force Tejas fighter jet crashes in Jaisalmer today during an operational training flight. The pilot ejected successfully. A Court of Inquiry has been set up to determine the cause of Tejas fighter jet crashes,” the Indian Air Force announced on 24 June. ”
One witness said, “I was standing nearby.” The pilot of the plane ejected, and I saw a parachute open. The plane hit the ground and there was a terrible explosion.
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.— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) March 12, 2024
No. 45 Squadron, widely known as the ‘Flying Daggers’, was the first IAF squadron to receive the Tejas in 2016. No. 18 Squadron became the second IAF unit to fly the Tejas in 2020.
The Indian Air Force currently flies 40 Tejas Mk-1 aircraft and has 83 Tejas Mk-1A fighter aircraft on order worth over Rs 46,000 crore. In November last year, the Defense Acquisition Council had received preliminary approval to purchase additional 97 Tejas aircraft for the force.
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