IAF’s LCA Tejas set to resume flights after two-month grounding

New Delhi, April 8. In a significant development for the Indian Air Force (IAF), the indigenously developed HAL Tejas is scheduled to resume flight operations on April 8 after being grounded for nearly two months.

The fleet was taken off flying duties in early February following a technical issue during a landing incident involving a Tejas aircraft. At the time, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited clarified that the episode was “not a crash” but a minor technical problem that occurred on the ground.

HAL Chairman and Managing Director DK Sunil said the issue had since been examined and resolved through the Local Modification Committee (LMC) process. He indicated that with the committee’s work complete, the aircraft were expected to return to the skies by midweek.

While the recent incidents have drawn attention, defence experts note that the Tejas fleet had accumulated over 50,000 safe flying hours before 2024. The more recent accidents remain under technical review.

The programme has, however, come under heightened scrutiny after a series of mishaps in a short span. In February 2026, a hard landing during a training sortie severely damaged a Tejas aircraft, forcing the pilot to eject. Earlier, in 2024, another Tejas crash was linked to an engine fuel-feed issue.

Concerns were further amplified after a fatal accident during a high-risk display at the Dubai Airshow in November 2025, in which Wing Commander Namansh Syal lost his life.

Amid the recent tensions with Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, the operational availability of Tejas squadrons is seen as critical for the IAF’s force posture and indigenous capability push.