Dubai, November 21, 2025, A tragic moment unfolded at the Dubai Airshow when the Indian Air Force’s Tejas fighter jet crashed during a live performance. The incident happened at around 2:10 p.m. local time, shocking thousands of people who had gathered to watch the air display.
As the aircraft went down, a huge cloud of black smoke rose near the airport. Many spectators panicked, thinking something had exploded. Emergency teams rushed to the area immediately, but the crash site was already covered in flames.
Soon after the accident, the Indian Air Force confirmed the news on the social media platform X. In its statement, the Air Force said that the pilot on board had lost his life in the crash. The message expressed deep sorrow and added that an investigation would be carried out to find the cause of the accident.
The Tejas aircraft involved in the crash was a single-seat fighter jet. The Indian Air Force also uses a two-seat trainer version of the plane, while the Indian Navy operates a twin-seat variant. The Tejas program has been active for years. Its first test flight, known as Technology Demonstrator-1 (TD-1), took place in 2001. The first series-production Tejas in its Initial Operational Clearance configuration flew on March 22, 2016.
The incident is seen as a major setback for India, especially since the aircraft was being showcased at an international event. The Dubai Airshow attracts global defence experts, aviation industries and potential buyers. A crash during a live demonstration not only raises safety concerns but also affects confidence in the aircraft.
As investigations continue, the tragedy has left many questions unanswered about the aircraft, pilot safety and future performances of the Tejas fighter jet.