Third Tejas Mishap Since 2024 Prompts IAF Fleet Grounding; Pilot Ejects Safely After Brake Failure

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The controversial light fighter jet Tejas grabs headlines once again after a near fatal crash in India at a military air base. The plane belongs to the Indian Air Force. It was on the way back from a normal training flight. The pilot tried to land the jet on the runway. But the plane's brakes failed to work. The jet did not stop and went past the end of the landing strip. The pilot used his seat to push the plane out just in time. He is safe and has no serious injuries.

The plane hit the ground and suffered heavy damage. Experts say the jet's body is severely damaged. This is the third time a Tejas jet has had a major problem since 2024. As a result, the Air Force has grounded all 30 Tejas jets. They want to check every plane in the fleet. They need to make sure the same brake problem does not happen again. This is a big worry for the military. The Tejas is a very important plane made in India.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is the company that makes the jet. On February 23, they said the event was a minor ground incident. They said it was not a crash. But the Air Force is taking it very seriously. They have started a high-level check to find the real cause. They are looking at the flight data and the wheels. The government wants to buy many more of these jets soon. But these accidents might slow down the new orders. Each plane costs a lot of money to build and fly.

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The pilot is now in a military hospital for a health check. He did a good job of getting out before the jet was ruined. Local teams cleared the broken parts of the jet from the field. The Air Force will wait for the final report before flying the jets again. This case shows that even new planes can have big technical faults.