A tragic incident unfolded at the Dubai Airshow on Friday when an Indian Air Force (IAF) Tejas fighter jet crashed during an aerial display, killing its pilot. The IAF confirmed the accident in an official statement, expressing deep sorrow over the loss and vowing to determine the cause of the crash.
IAF Confirms Fatal Crash During Aerial Display
According to the Indian Air Force, the indigenous Tejas aircraft went down while performing at the prestigious airshow in the United Arab Emirates. “The pilot was fatally injured in the accident,” the statement said, adding that the force “stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief.”
The IAF has ordered a court of inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Dramatic Footage Circulates Online
Shortly after the incident, video clips began circulating on social media showing the single-seat jet spiralling downward before crashing and erupting into thick clouds of smoke. Indian media outlets reported that the crash occurred around 2:10 pm local time at Al Maktoum International Airport, the venue hosting this year’s airshow.
Eyewitnesses described a massive plume of smoke rising from the site as emergency crews rushed to the scene.
Second Tejas Crash in Under Two Years
The Tejas, developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), is India’s flagship light combat aircraft designed to modernise the country’s aging air fleet. However, this is the second known crash of the jet in less than two years.
In March 2024, a Tejas fighter went down in Rajasthan during a training exercise, marking the first crash since the aircraft’s maiden test flight in 2001. The pilot survived that incident after safely ejecting.
The latest crash raises further questions about the aircraft’s reliability at a time when India aims to shift away from its older Russian-origin platforms toward more indigenous production. The Tejas fleet, which uses General Electric engines, remains a key component of that modernisation strategy.
Investigations Underway
The IAF reiterated that a full inquiry will be conducted to determine what led to the fatal accident in Dubai. As investigations begin, the tragedy has cast a shadow over the international airshow and sparked renewed scrutiny of India’s ambitious defence aviation programme.
