An Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot lost his life on Friday when an indigenous Tejas fighter jet crashed during an aerial display at the Dubai Airshow in the United Arab Emirates. The accident sent shockwaves through spectators and aviation communities as thick smoke quickly covered the area at Al Maktoum International Airport.
The IAF confirmed the tragedy in an official statement, saying the single-seater jet went down mid-performance and the pilot suffered fatal injuries. Expressing sorrow, the IAF said it “deeply regrets the loss of life” and stands with the pilot’s family “in this moment of grief.” Authorities have ordered a detailed inquiry to determine what went wrong.
Videos widely shared on social media showed the jet spiraling downward before erupting into smoke. NDTV reported that the crash occurred around 2:10 pm local time, moments before the smoke engulfed the runway area.
The Tejas aircraft, developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), has been central to India’s push to modernize its air force fleet, which still relies heavily on older Russian-origin fighters. This incident marks the second Tejas crash in less than two years. The earlier crash took place in Rajasthan in March last year the first in the aircraft’s more than two-decade history since its maiden test flight in 2001 where the pilot survived after ejecting safely.
The IAF said a formal court of inquiry will investigate the cause of the Dubai Airshow accident.
