In a recent declaration, Tej Pratap Yadav, son of Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi, expressed his readiness to serve the nation, even at the cost of his life, stating that he is prepared to utilize his pilot training for the country's benefit. This announcement has sparked discussions about his capabilities and past endeavors in aviation.

Yadav's interest in flying is not new. In 2010, he enrolled at the Bihar Flying Institute in Patna with the goal of obtaining a commercial pilot license (CPL). The selection process involved an interview conducted by a board that included the principal cabinet secretary, the director and chief engineer of the state civil aviation department, and the chief flight instructor of the institute. At the time, officials affirmed that the selection was based purely on merit. To get the license, one was required to complete 200 hours of flying. He underwent initial training, including ground classes and medical tests, and even accumulated over seven hours of flying experience using a Cessna 172 aircraft. However, he did not complete the course.

In October 2021, Yadav claimed that he had been selected for the Indian Air Force and had completed two years of training at the Bihar Flying Institute. He also stated that he possessed an ID card with "Captain" prefixed to his name.

However, the recent display of what Yadav claimed to be his "pilot license" has faced scrutiny. According to AI analysis, the document he presented is a Flight Radio Telephone Operator's Licence (Restricted) (FRTOL-R). This license permits the holder to communicate on aircraft radios but does not qualify them to pilot an aircraft.

Tej Pratap Yadav's political career began with his election to the Bihar Legislative Assembly from the Mahua constituency in 2015 as a member of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). He then served as a cabinet minister for Health in Nitish Kumar's government from November 2015 to July 2017. During his tenure, he notably promoted horse riding as a way to reduce pollution in Patna. In the 2020 elections, he contested from the Hasanpur seat in Samastipur district. Currently, he is the cabinet minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change in the Government of Bihar.

Yadav has faced controversies throughout his political career. In 2017, he made headlines for threatening to skin Prime Minister Narendra Modi alive after his father, Lalu Prasad Yadav, had his security downgraded. More recently, in March 2025, he was fined ₹4,000 by the Bihar traffic police for riding a scooter without a helmet. A video of the incident also showed that the scooter's insurance and pollution certificate had expired. Furthermore, he faced backlash for a remark made during Holi celebrations, where he allegedly told a police officer to dance or face suspension.