Bengaluru-headquartered aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has released a statement on Monday over reports of a Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA) of the Indian Air Force (IAF) suffering damage to its airframe.

The shares of HAL fell nearly 5% to an intraday low of ₹3,976 apiece on the national stock exchange (NSE) as investors reacted to news of the fleet's operational status. The sell-off reflects growing jitters regarding the indigenous fighter program's safety record and delivery timelines.

Amid mounting speculation, the PSU clarified that there has been no reported crash of the LCA Tejas. The event in question was a "minor technical incident on ground," the statement added.

"LCA Tejas maintains one of the world’s best safety records among contemporary fighter aircraft," the statement said. "As a standard operating procedure, the issue is being analysed in depth and HAL is working closely with the Indian Air Force (IAF) for a speedy resolution."

Incident occurred during routine training sortie

The clarification follows  a PTI report on early Monday which said that a Tejas jet sustained structural damage after overshooting the runway at a frontline airbase on February 7, 2026. While the IAF has not issued a formal release, the report said the aircraft experienced a suspected brake failure during its landing roll-out following a routine training sortie. The pilot reportedly ejected safely as a precautionary measure, but the airframe suffered substantial damage.

Market and operational pressure

The incident has triggered a broader impact on the IAF’s operations. The report added that the entire fleet of approximately 30 single-seat Tejas jets has been temporarily grounded for comprehensive technical scrutiny. This marks the third major safety concern for the platform in two years, following a crash in Jaisalmer in March 2024 and a fatal accident during the Dubai Airshow in November 2025.

Beyond safety concerns, HAL is currently navigating significant headwinds regarding the Tejas Mk1A program. The company has missed several delivery deadlines, primarily due to delays in the supply of F404 engines from GE Aerospace. With the Ministry of Defence having signed contracts worth over ₹1.1 lakh crore for 180 Mk1A jets, any perceived systemic technical issue adds to the pressure on HAL to stabilize production.

HAL shares ended 3.48% lower at ₹4,025.00 apiece on the NSE on Monday. The PSU's shares have risen over 20% in the past year, outperforming the benchmark Nifty 50 index that rose nearly 14% during the same period.