India has suffered another setback following the recent crash of its Tejas fighter jet at the Dubai Airshow, as Armenia has reportedly decided not to proceed with its planned purchase of the aircraft.
According to international media reports, Armenia has withdrawn from a proposed deal worth $1.2 billion for the acquisition of 12 Tejas jets. The decision is said to have come shortly after the aircraft crashed during an aerobatic display at the Dubai Airshow.
A few days earlier, an Indian Tejas jet crashed while performing at the event. Eyewitnesses said the aircraft descended rapidly during a stunt and hit the ground near the runway, bursting into flames moments later. The pilot did not survive the crash.
India’s Air Force confirmed the loss of the pilot, Wing Commander Vikram Singh, and stated that a detailed investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident.
Reports noted that this is the second major accident involving the Tejas aircraft since it was inducted into the Indian Air Force in 2015. A previous crash occurred during a training flight in Rajasthan.
Following the Dubai incident, shares of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the manufacturer of the Tejas aircraft, dropped by 2.62 percent.
There are also claims that the jet had been experiencing technical issues, including an oil leak, prior to the show—problems that were widely discussed on social media.
