LCA (Light Combat Aircraft) Tejas of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed near Jaisalmer in Rajasthan on Tuesday during an operational training sortie. While the pilot has been reportedly ejected safely, a court of inquiry has been arranged to address the cause of the accident.
IAF confirmed his statement on X (formerly known as X) that a Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas of the Indian Air Force crashed near Jaisalmer today during an operational sortie and that the pilot has been ejected safely.
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
The plane crashed on the grounds of student’s hostel which is situated in the areas of Lakshmi Chand Sanwal Colony in Jaisalmer around 2 pm in the afternoon. This is the first crash of the Tejas jet since it took its first test flight, 23 years ago in the year 2001. The Tejas, which is a light combat aircraft was inducted into the IAF(Indian Air Force) in 2016.
It was unclear that Tejas was a part of the war games taking place in Rajasthan. the aircraft caught fire after the crash which was now put off.
As per an eye witness he was standing nearby. The pilot of the plane ejected and he saw an parachute opening. The aircraft crashed in a ground and there was a loud explosion he explains.
IAF’s Tejas and its history
Flying Daggers is a common name which was used in 2016 for the No. 45 Squadron, the first IAF Squadron to induct the Tejas . The No. 18 Squadron became the second most IAF unit to operate in 2020.
Currently as of now under the Indian Airforce 40 Tejas MK-1 operates and it has 83 Tejas MK-1A fighters on order in a deal worth over Rs- 46,000 crores. An initial approval to procure an additional 97 Tejas planes for the force has been given by Defense Acquisition Council last November 2023. The Indian Navy also operates a twin-seater variant of the aircraft.
The LCA Tejas was part of the 18th Squadron of the Indian Air Force( IAF) and also participated in the tri-services exercise Bharat Shakti in Pokharan before crashing in the Golden city, Jaisalmer.
Inquiry instigated
A proper court enquiry has been ordered to investigate the cause of the terrible accident, IAF informs. An emerging engine failure cause i.e. Prima Facie caused this crash but still more details are yet to known which would be only available after the investigation is completed.
Taking the statement of the Additional Superintended of Police Mahendra Singh of Jaisalmer, he said that were was no loss of human life in Kalla and Jawahar i.e. the crash areas which also happen to be residential colonies. Although a portion of a hostel building was damaged but fortunately, there was no one inside at that time, added .
The eye witnesses says that thick black smokes was seen billowing from the single-storey brick building. Scores of people stood at distance to watch the incident as the remains of the building was getting destroyed.
According PTI report, an eye witness that the pilot was ejected in a very narrow time before the crash occurred. “As soon as the plane hit the ground, there was a loud sound,” said the eye witness.
As the incident occurred with Prime Minister Modi in the Rajasthan’s Pokhran within 100 kilometers. PM Modi is in Pokhran to meet with the delegates from more than 30 countries. The PM and other delegates witnessed the tri-service exercise ‘ Bharat Shakti’ in Pokhran on Tuesday.
The mega project of “Bharat Shakti” exercise which was held for 50 minutes deals with demonstration of the prowess of indigenously manufactured defense equipment of the three services took place in Pokhran firing range on Tuesday with PM Modi , Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and Army Chief General Manoj Pande.
