IAF Tejas Crashes During Dubai Air Show Display; Pilot Killed

The accident occurred as the Tejas was performing a low-altitude manoeuvre during the airshow’s last day.

During the manoeuvre, the Tejas aircraft inverted fully, placing it upside down, with its nose pitched downward steeply, while initiating a rapid descent. However, with less vertical space available to regain lift, the aircraft crashed on the ground.

Visuals of the crash aired on TV channels showed the jet dropping altitude and then crashing on the ground, before being engulfed in a ball of fire. As smoke billowed out of the crash site, the sight left the spectators shocked.

The Indian Air Force has ordered a court of inquiry to find out the cause of the accident

The cause of accident may be an engine issue or the pilot may have misjudged the distance from the ground for the plane’s recovery during the low-altitude manoeuvre.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh said he was deeply anguished at the loss of a brave and courageous IAF pilot during an aerial display in Dubai. “My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. The nation stands firmly with the family in this tragic hour,” he added.

This is only the second accident involving the indigenous Tejas jet. In March 2024, a Tejas light combat aircraft of the IAF crashed near a residential colony in Jaisalmer while returning from the tri-services military exercise “Bharat Shakti” in the Pokhran desert, in what was the first accident involving the indigenously-built single-engine jet since it began flying in 2001. The pilot had ejected safely.

“An IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at the Dubai Airshow today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident,” the IAF said in a statement.

The IAF said that it 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,” it added.

The Dubai Airshow is a biennial event held in the UAE, and has both flying and static displays. The crash of the Tejas has cast a tragic shadow on an otherwise mega spectacle. The 2025 edition was being hosted from November 17 to 21.

Minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth had recently attended the 2025 Dubai Airshow, and had witnessed the aerial display by the IAF’s Surya Kiran aerobatic team and Tejas during the airshow, the defence ministry had said.

The crash happened in full view of a packed grandstand which was watching the aerobatics display on the last day of the Middle East’s biggest airshow. Dubai’s government-run media office confirmed the “tragic death of the pilot”.

The plane went down about 1.6 km from the show site, which was full of planes, helicopters and other hardware on static display. The UAE’s President and Prime Minister, aviation industry leaders and military top brass were among thousands attending the show.

Videos on social media showed the aircraft plunging to the ground and bursting into flames on impact. Smoke billowed from the crash site as emergency vehicles sped towards it.

“The pilot was flying at a low altitude, performing risky manoeuvres,” Iraqi eyewitness Hassan Loqman said. “Then he seemed he was trying to avoid the accident, he began to steer the plane upwards, but he couldn't do so in time.”

The incident happened near the start of the daily flying display, with barrel rolls, loops and other stunts. The demonstration later resumed.

Friday’s crash is believed to be the first in the history of the Dubai Airshow, which dates back to 1986.

Manufactured by state-run aerospace behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), the Tejas aircraft is a potent platform for air combat and offensive air support missions while reconnaissance and anti-ship operations are its secondary roles.

The project to build the Tejas aircraft finally took off in 1984 after years of deliberations. The jet was formally declared fit to fly in 2011.

The Tejas aircraft came under some scrutiny when one of the jets developed a technical snag during a sortie in October 2020. The Tejas aircraft are set to be the mainstay of the IAF.

In February 2021, the defence ministry sealed a Rs 48,000-crore deal with HAL for the procurement of 83 Tejas MK-1A jets for the IAF. In November 2023, the ministry accorded an initial approval to procure an additional batch of 97 Tejas jets for the IAF.