Tejas LCA Crash: IAF Pilot Ejects Safely as Aircraft Plummets in Jaisalmer, Inquiry Initiated

A Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) of the Indian Air Force crashed in Jaisalmer during an operational training sortie on Tuesday. As per the statement released by the IAF, the pilot had ejected himself safely from the aircraft before it crashed. A court inquiry has been initiated to probe into the cause of the accident.

“A Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas of the Indian Air Force crashed near 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,” said the Indian Airforce in a statement.

At around 2 pm, the aircraft crashed into the grounds of a student hostel near the Lakshmi Chand Sanwal Colony in Jaisalmer. Manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the aircraft caught fire after the crash. Mahendra Singh, the Additional Superintendent of police stated that there was no loss of human life or property.

The crash of the indigenously-built Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas fighter jet marks the first incident of its kind since its inaugural flight 23 years ago in 2001.​