An Indian Tejas fighter jet crashed on Friday during a flying display at the Dubai Airshow, killing the pilot, authorities in the United Arab Emirates and the Indian Air Force confirmed. The accident occurred at around 2:10 p.m. local time after the aircraft performed a low roll and shortly afterward lost control, crashing in flames roughly 1.6 kilometers from the exhibition area at Al Maktoum International Airport. Spectators were watching the scheduled flight demonstrations at the time, and emergency teams quickly reached the crash site, where firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze triggered by the impact.
According to the Associated Press, the Tejas had made several passes over the display area before suddenly diving toward the ground. On the available footage, there is no visible attempt by the pilot to eject, a detail corroborated by videos shared by witnesses, including Indian journalist Aditya Raj Kaul. Dubai’s state media office stated that the aircraft was participating in the official flying program. The Indian Air Force later confirmed the pilot’s death and expressed condolences to the family, noting that a court of inquiry has been launched to determine the cause of the crash.
Terrible News of India’s Tejas crashing in Dubai Air show. No ejection by pilot spotted. Heartbreaking scene. Via @zone5aviation
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) November 21, 2025
The Tejas is a single-engine, lightweight fighter jet produced by India’s state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. India’s Ministry of Defence has ordered 97 units as part of efforts to strengthen its air force, which still relies heavily on Russian and ex-Soviet aircraft, at a time of rising regional tensions and China’s expanding military presence. Despite the strategic importance of the program, deliveries have been delayed because the aircraft relies on imported engines manufactured by General Electric in the United States. This is the second known crash involving a Tejas; the previous one occurred in 2024 during an exercise in the Indian state of Rajasthan, when the pilot successfully ejected.
