In a dramatic incident, an indigenous Tejas fighter jet of the Indian Air Force crashed near a hostel complex in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer today. The pilot, however, managed to eject safely from the aircraft moments before it burst into flames. A video capturing the pilot’s ejection has since emerged, depicting the fighter jet gliding at a low altitude before the pilot activates the ejection mechanism, deploying a parachute and descending safely to the ground.
The Indian Air Force has initiated a court of inquiry to investigate the cause of the crash, which occurred with the Tejas, India’s homegrown fighter aircraft, losing altitude and eventually crashing near the student hostel premises.
The ejection mechanism employed in the Tejas, utilizing zero-zero ejection seats manufactured by British company Martin Baker, played a pivotal role in ensuring the pilot’s safe exit. These seats are designed to eject pilots from a stationary position to a considerable height, even from zero altitude or speed. Such capabilities are crucial for pilots facing unrecoverable situations during low-altitude or low-speed flights, as well as ground mishaps during takeoff or landing.
The ejection process involves explosives beneath the seat, which blow the canopy of the fighter jet, propelling the pilot into the air. Rockets underneath the seat direct the pilot in a safe trajectory, and parachutes are then deployed for a controlled descent. Despite experiencing high g-forces during ejection, reaching up to 20 times the force experienced on earth, the pilot managed to escape unharmed.
In the Tejas programme, the importance of the egress system, encompassing the ejection seats, canopy, and parachutes, cannot be overstated. The angle of ejection is carefully calculated to ensure the pilot moves away from the aircraft, particularly crucial in single-seater configurations like the Tejas.
Tejas, a 4.5-generation multi-role fighter aircraft, has been a flagship project for India’s defense sector. While the incident underscores the risks inherent in military aviation, it also highlights the effectiveness of safety measures and technologies incorporated into aircraft design to safeguard the lives of pilots.
Sources By Agencies
