Indian jet crashes on Dubia airport, on the Dubai air show as the India made jet crashed

An Indian Air Force (IAF) HAL Tejas fighter jet crashed during a high-profile demonstration at the Dubai Air Show on Friday, killing its pilot and casting a shadow over the final day of one of the world’s premier aviation events.

The accident took place on November 21, 2025, at Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai, where the five-day air show was concluding. According to initial statements from the IAF and UAE authorities, the aircraft went down while performing an aerobatic routine, erupting into a fireball on impact. Thick black smoke was seen rising near the runway as emergency sirens blared and rescue teams rushed to the scene.

Final Display Turns Tragic

Witnesses reported that the Tejas was executing a low-level maneuver when it appeared to lose control and plunge toward the ground. Video clips shared on social media show the jet banking and then disappearing behind structures before a massive explosion and plume of smoke.

The fighter, identified as a HAL Tejas Mk-1 belonging to the Indian Air Force, was on a solo demonstration flight as part of India’s participation in the show. The pilot — a senior IAF officer — was the only person on board and did not survive the crash. No casualties were reported on the ground.

The Dubai Media Office and UAE Ministry of Defence confirmed the incident and the pilot’s death, saying emergency and firefighting teams “responded immediately and are managing the situation on-site.”

Show Temporarily Halted

Flight displays were briefly suspended as authorities cordoned off the crash site and diverted spectators back to exhibition areas. After safety assessments, aerial displays later resumed on a limited scale, but the mood at the venue remained subdued.

The Dubai Air Show 2025 had brought together more than 1,500 exhibitors and over 180 aircraft, with the Tejas and India’s Suryakiran aerobatic team forming a key part of New Delhi’s showcase in the Middle East.

Court of Inquiry Ordered

In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), the Indian Air Force said it “deeply regrets the loss of life” and announced that a Court of Inquiry has been ordered to determine the exact cause of the accident. Indian and UAE officials have both pledged support for the pilot’s family.

Early assessments by aviation experts, based on video footage, suggest the aircraft may have lost stability while performing a negative-G maneuver at very low altitude, leaving insufficient height for recovery. However, investigators have not yet confirmed any technical or human factors, and officials have cautioned against drawing premature conclusions.

Spotlight on the Tejas Programme

The crash is only the second recorded accident involving the Tejas in more than two decades of its development and operational service, but it is the first fatal one, making it a significant setback for India’s indigenous fighter programme.

Powered by a General Electric engine and designed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the Tejas is a Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) intended to replace ageing MiG-21s and other legacy platforms in the IAF fleet. India has actively promoted the jet for export, particularly to partners in Asia, Africa and the Middle East, and its presence at Dubai was seen as an important marketing opportunity.

In the days leading up to the crash, the aircraft had already been the subject of online debate after a video circulated allegedly showing an “oil leak” during an earlier display. Indian authorities had dismissed those claims as misinformation, explaining that the visible trail was condensed water from the jet’s environmental and oxygen systems operating in humid conditions.

Grief and Questions

Condolences have poured in from Indian political and military leaders, who praised the pilot’s professionalism and sacrifice. The tragedy has also reignited discussion about the risks of aggressive aerobatic displays at public shows, where pilots push aircraft — and themselves — to the limits for crowds of spectators and foreign buyers.

For now, investigators will pore over flight data, maintenance logs and video footage to piece together the final minutes of the Tejas’s ill-fated display in Dubai — a day that was meant to celebrate aviation prowess but ended in mourning for a lost pilot and a programme suddenly under intense global scrutiny.