A Tejas fighter jet crashed during a flying demonstration at the Dubai Air Show on Friday afternoon, sending a plume of thick black smoke over Al Maktoum International Airport as crowds watched. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has confirmed that the pilot has died in the crash.
An IAF Tejas aircraft crashed during an aerial display at the Dubai Air Show today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident. The Indian Air Force deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this hour of grief. A court of inquiry is being set up to determine the cause of the accident,” the IAF said in a statement.
An IAF Tejas aircraft crashed during an aerial display at the Dubai Air Show today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident. The IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this hour of grief. The Dubai government stated that firefighting and emergency teams responded swiftly to the incident and are currently managing the situation at the scene.
According to sources, the pilot was unable to recover from the negative G-force turn. Negative G-force is the force felt in the opposite direction of gravity. The Tejas can perform negative G maneuvers, one of its specialties. The fighter jet was in free fall and did not glide—possibly due to a recovery failure.
The Integrated Defence Staff said in a statement, “General Anil Chauhan, CDS, and all ranks of the Indian Armed Forces express their deepest condolences on the accident involving an IAF Tejas aircraft during an aerial display at the Dubai Air Show today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident. We deeply regret the loss of life and stand firmly with the bereaved family in this hour of grief.”
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The crash occurred during the biennial Dubai Air Show, one of the world’s largest aviation exhibitions. Several major announcements have been made at the event this week, including multi-billion-dollar aircraft orders from Emirates and flydubai. An IAF LCA Tejas jet crashed and caught fire at the Dubai Air Show.
This incident is the second crash involving the Tejas aircraft in less than two years. In March 2024, a Tejas fighter plane crashed in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, marking the first such accident in the aircraft’s 23-year history since its first test flight in 2001. In that case, the pilot ejected safely. The Tejas is a 4.5-generation multi-role combat aircraft designed to perform air-defense missions, offensive air support, and close-combat operations. It is known for being one of the lightest and smallest fighter planes in its class.
A distinctive feature of the jet is its Martin-Baker Zero-Zero ejection seat, designed to safely eject pilots even at zero altitude and zero speed—such as during takeoff, landing, or low-level maneuvers. This system uses an explosive charge to blow off the canopy, propelling the pilot away from the aircraft, and deploying a parachute to stabilize the descent.
Air show spectators watched the crash from a viewing enclosure near the runway. The video showed the Tejas flying a demonstration routine before losing altitude and rapidly descending. Seconds later, a plume of black smoke rose, causing a flurry of gasps and hurried movements among visitors. The Tejas program has been central to India’s efforts to modernize its aging fighter fleet and reduce its dependence on foreign suppliers. The first Tejas squadron, No. 45 ‘Flying Daggers,’ was inducted into the IAF in 2016.
In September, the Centre signed a major new contract with HAL for 97 more Tejas fighter planes, with deliveries expected to begin in 2027. The government had previously committed to purchasing 83 Tejas Mk-1A aircraft under a 2021 agreement, though those deliveries have been delayed.