The Indian Air Force reported today, Tuesday, that a Tejas fighter jet crashed in the state of Rajasthan in northwest India, while the pilot managed to eject with a parachute. The statement from the Air Force indicated that this single-seat Indian fighter jet crashed near the city of Jaisalmer during a flight to assess combat readiness. According to local media, this is the first crash involving a Tejas fighter jet. There were no injuries or fatalities as a result of the incident.
Videos circulated on social media show that after the pilot ejected, the jet continued to fly in a straight descending path before colliding with a small building, causing no extensive damage on the ground. Tejas is the only fighter jet developed and produced in India. The aircraft made its first flight in 2001, and it was decided to commission the fighter in 2015. The Air Force is expected to start receiving an improved version of it soon.
