HAL Denies Tejas Crash, Says Only Minor Ground Technical Issue

Bengaluru: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on Monday rejected media reports claiming a crash involving the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, asserting that the episode was only a minor technical occurrence on the ground.

In a statement issued in the afternoon, the state-run aerospace major said it was issuing a factual clarification regarding recent reports. HAL stressed that no crash of the Tejas aircraft had been reported and that the matter related solely to a ground-level technical incident.

HAL acknowledges the recent media reports on the LCA Tejas incident and wishes to provide factual clarification. There has been no reported crash of the LCA Tejas. The event in question was a minor technical incident on ground.

— HAL (@HALHQBLR) February 23, 2026

The company highlighted that the LCA Tejas continues to maintain one of the best safety records among modern fighter aircraft. It added that the issue is being examined thoroughly in line with standard operating procedures.

HAL further said it is working in close coordination with the Indian Air Force (IAF) to ensure a swift resolution.

The clarification follows reports on Sunday alleging that a Tejas jet suffered significant airframe damage after overshooting the runway at a frontline airbase, reportedly due to a suspected brake failure.