Dubai, November 21, 2025: An Indian Air Force (IAF) Tejas fighter aircraft crashed during a demonstration flight at the Dubai Air Show on Friday, killing the pilot, officials and witnesses confirmed.
The indigenously developed Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Tejas jet went down at approximately 2:10pm local time. Dramatic videos circulating on social media showed the aircraft descending rapidly before crashing into the ground and erupting into a fireball. Thick black smoke billowed from the crash site as emergency vehicles rushed to the scene.
The accident occurred on the final day of the Middle East’s largest aviation exhibition, held at Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport. Hundreds of spectators on the grandstand and attendees across the crowded apron witnessed the tragic incident during the afternoon flying display.
In a statement on X, the Indian Air Force confirmed the pilot’s death.
“An IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at the Dubai Air Show today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident,” the IAF said, adding, “IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief. A court of inquiry is being constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident.”
Footage of the incident showed the jet performing a low roll before crashing approximately 1.6 kilometres from the show area.
Commissioned into the IAF in 2016, the Tejas—meaning “brilliance” in Hindi—is a domestically produced light combat aircraft that has faced multiple design and operational challenges over the years. The Indian Navy previously rejected the aircraft for being too heavy for carrier operations.
This is the second known crash involving the Tejas, which is powered by General Electric (GE) engines. The first occurred during an exercise in India in 2024. The Tejas Mk-1A variant is seen as vital to India’s efforts to replace ageing fighter jets and strengthen its air force amid rising regional tensions, including China’s expanding military influence and its support to Pakistan.
Production and deployment of the aircraft have faced delays, partly due to slow delivery of 99 GE engines ordered in 2021, of which only four have been supplied so far. GE has cited post-pandemic supply chain disruptions for the holdup.
The biennial Dubai Air Show, running from November 17–21, featured more than 1,500 exhibitors, over 200 aircraft in flying and static displays, 12 conference tracks, and hundreds of global aerospace industry leaders.
