Web Desk (MNN); An Indian-made Tejas fighter jet crashed during a demonstration flight at the Dubai Air Show on Friday, killing its pilot, officials and eyewitnesses told AFP.
The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited–manufactured aircraft went down at around 2:10pm local time. Videos circulating online showed the jet losing altitude at high speed before hitting the ground and erupting into flames. Thick smoke rose from the crash site as emergency vehicles rushed in.
The incident occurred on the final day of the Middle East’s largest airshow, where afternoon flying displays typically draw large crowds. Hundreds of spectators in the grandstand witnessed the crash, while the apron was filled with aircraft, helicopters, and other defence equipment on static display.
In a statement on X, the Indian Air Force (IAF) confirmed the pilot’s death, saying the Tejas “met with an accident during an aerial display” and that the pilot sustained fatal injuries. The IAF expressed condolences to the bereaved family and announced that a court of inquiry had been ordered to determine the cause of the crash.
Footage appeared to show the aircraft attempting a low roll before crashing roughly 1.6 kilometres from the show venue.
Earlier in the week, the Tejas had drawn attention on social media after photos showed shopping bags placed under the jet to collect leaking liquid. Speculation spread that the aircraft was “leaking oil” during its time on the tarmac, with some posts claiming the leak continued into the second day of the event. There was no official comment from the Indian government or military.
India’s Press Information Bureau later said the images showed a routine drainage process, not a malfunction. According to the bureau, the liquid was condensation released as part of the aircraft’s cooling system during standard pre-flight procedures.
The Tejas — which means “brilliance” in Hindi — is India’s domestically designed light combat aircraft, inducted into the IAF in 2016. Its development has faced technical challenges, and it was once deemed too heavy by the Indian Navy.
The Dubai Air Show, hosted at Al Maktoum International Airport from November 17–21, featured more than 1,500 exhibitors, 200 aircraft in static and live displays, 12 conference tracks, and hundreds of international participants.
Friday’s crash is the second documented accident involving a Tejas fighter. The first occurred during an exercise in India in 2024. The Tejas Mk-1A fleet is central to India’s plans to modernise its air force and replace ageing squadrons amid China’s expanding military capabilities and support for Pakistan.
The rollout of the jets has been delayed by slow delivery of engines from General Electric. Of the 99 engines ordered in 2021, only four have been delivered, with GE citing post-pandemic supply chain disruptions.
