An Indian Air Force Tejas fighter jet crashed during an aerial display at the Dubai Air Show on Friday, killing the pilot, the IAF confirmed, saying a court of inquiry would be set up to investigate the cause of the crash.
In a post on X, the Indian Air Force said: “An IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident today during an air show at the Dubai Air Show. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident. The IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family at this time of grief. A court of inquiry has been set up to determine the cause of the accident.”
Meanwhile, footage broadcast on several television channels showed the plane losing altitude before crashing to the ground in flames.
Meanwhile, GE Aerospace is ready to support the investigation into what caused the Tejas fighter jet to crash at the Dubai Airshow, a company spokesman said on Friday, as reported by Reuters.
In March 2024, an IAF Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA) crashed near a residential colony in Jaisalmer while returning from the tri-service military exercise “Bharat Shakti” in the Pokhran desert, the first accident involving an indigenous single-engine jet since its inception in 2001.
The pilot ejected safely.
What is special about Tejas aircraft?
The Tejas is a 4.5 generation fighter aircraft developed to conduct attack air support, close combat and ground attack, as described by HAL.
Designed for multi-role performance, it is capable of operating in both land and sea environments, making it one of India’s most flexible domestically produced aircraft.
The Tejas lineup includes single-seat fighters for the Air Force and Navy, as well as two-seat trainer variants for both services.
An Indian Air Force Tejas aircraft performs during trials at Aero India 2021 at the Yelahanka Air Base in Bengaluru on February 2. (PTI)(HT_PRINT)
The latest and most advanced version, the LCA Mk1A, features major improvements for better combat effectiveness and survivability. It is equipped with an AESA radar, an upgraded electronic warfare suite with radar warning and jamming self-defense capabilities, a digital map generator, intelligent multi-function displays, a combined interrogator-transponder unit and a modern radio altimeter, along with several other high-end systems that increase its overall operational power.
Dubai Air Show 2025
The Dubai Air Show is an event that takes place every two years in the United Arab Emirates and has both flying and static displays. The Tejas crash cast a tragic shadow over an otherwise mega spectacle.
The 2025 edition is scheduled for Nov. 17-21, according to its website.
Read also | Plunge into massive fireball: Tejas jet crash caught on camera
This year, the event is attended by more than 1,500 leading exhibitors and more than 1.48 lakh industry professionals from 150 countries, the Indian Ministry of Defense said on 18 November.
Tejas aircraft
The project to build the Tejas aircraft finally got off the ground in 1984 after years of deliberation, and in 2011 the aircraft was formally declared airworthy.
The Tejas aircraft came under scrutiny when one of the jets developed a technical snag during a sortie in October 2020.
The Tejas aircraft are to be the mainstay of the IAF.
An Indian Air Force HAL Tejas performs during the Dubai Air Show in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)(AP)
In February 2021, the Ministry of Defense sealed a ₹48,000 crore contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd for procurement of 83 Tejas MK-1A jets for the IAF.
In November 2023, the ministry gave initial approval for the procurement of another batch of 97 Tejas jets for the IAF.
Minister of State for Defense Sanjay Seth recently attended the Dubai Air Show 2025.
According to the Ministry of Defence, he also witnessed an aerial display by the IAF Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team and Tejas during the air show.
(With input from agencies)
