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Tejas fighter of IAF experiences fuel tank mishap near Coimbatore

The IAF has ordered a probe into the incident, which is the 1st involving the Tejas

Collage of a Tejas carrying fuel tanks and weaponry (Indian Air Force) and wreckage of the fuel tank (Twitter handle of ANI)

A Tejas fighter of the Indian Air Force accidentally dropped an external fuel tank while on a flight from the Sulur airbase near Coimbatore on Tuesday morning.

The Tejas fighter, which was indigenously developed, was first inducted into the No 45 'Flying Daggers' Squadron of the Indian Air Force, which is based in Sulur. Fighter aircraft routinely carry one or more external fuel tanks to boost range and endurance.

The Tejas jet was on a training mission when the fuel tank was dropped over farmland at Irugur. The incident led to a fire on the farmland. The aircraft managed to return to Sulur and land safely. The Indian Air Force has ordered an investigation into the incident, which is the first involving the Tejas. The Tejas has had an excellent safety record since its first flight in 2001.

This is the second unplanned detachment of a fuel tank from a fighter in India in a month. In June, an external fuel tank of a MiG-29K fighter of the Indian Navy detached and fell on the runway of the Dabolim Airport in Goa, causing a fire and briefly disrupting flight operations. The fighter managed to land without incident.

Last week, a Jaguar fighter of the Indian Air Force was forced to dump its fuel tanks and practice bombs after experiencing a bird hit shortly after take-off from the Ambala airbase. The pilot managed to land the aircraft with one functional engine.