Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 02:09am on 23 Feb 2026,Monday Defence
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has lost its third Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) to a suspected technical glitch during a routine landing at a key operational air base. The pilot ejected safely, though the aircraft sustained severe airframe damage and may be written off. In response, the IAF grounded its entire fleet of approximately 30 single-seat Tejas jets for intensive technical investigation. This follows two previous losses that includes a March 2024 crash near Jaisalmer and a fatal November 2025 Dubai Airshow incident that killed Wing Commander Namansh Syal. The accident compounds existing concerns around the delayed Tejas Mk1A programme, despite a massive Rs 62,370 crore deal signed for 97 additional aircraft. (PC: IAF)
