Tejas fighter plane crashes at Dubai Air Show, pilot killed; Air Force started investigation

Indian Air Force’s Tejas fighter jet crashed during a demonstration at the Dubai Air Show on Friday (21 November) afternoon.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) confirmed the pilot’s death, saying he “suffered fatal injuries” in the crash and constituted a court to investigate the cause of the crash.

“The Indian Air Force deeply regrets the loss of life and property and stands strongly with the bereaved family in this hour of grief. A Court of Inquiry is being constituted to determine the cause of the accident,” the force said in a statement.

The Indian HAL Tejas, a fighter plane used by the Indian Air Force, crashed at 2:10 pm Dubai time while performing a demonstration flight for the crowd.

The Indian Air Force has confirmed that a Tejas fighter aircraft crashed during an aerial display at the Dubai Air Show.@kaidensharmaa And @RShivshankar Share more details @mjavinod shares his thoughts@akankshaswarups , #dubaiairshow #Indian Air Force #UAE #protect #Security pic.twitter.com/NIZLDgcdkQ

– News18 (@CNNnews18) 21 November 2025

Black smoke began rising over Dubai World Central’s Al Maktoum International Airport as crowds of spectators watched and sirens blared after the crash.

The city-state’s second airport was hosting Biennial Dubai Air ShowWhich has seen large aircraft orders by both long-haul carrier Emirates and its low-cost sister airline flydubai.

The event is hosting more than 1,500 exhibitors and more than 148,000 industry professionals from 150 countries, including leading aerospace manufacturers such as Bombardier, Dassault Aviation, Embraer, Thales, Airbus, Lockheed Martin and Callidus.

IAF’s Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) was conceived in the year 1984 and made its maiden flight 24 years ago on January 04, 2001. The indigenous single engine 4.5 generation multi-role fighter jet was named ‘Tejas’ by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in May 2003.

This was the second crash of Tejas in 24 years, its first occurring during an operational training flight in Jaisalmer on March 12, 2024.

on September, Defense Ministry signs contract worth ₹62,370 crore It will jointly supply 97 Tejas MK-1A fighter jets with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), including 68 single-seater and 29 twin-seater trainer variants. According to HAL officials, production of the LCA Mk-1A is gaining momentum, with the company to receive four GE-404 jet engines from General Electric, of which 12 are expected by the end of the financial year.