Smoke billowed Friday from the site of an aircraft crash during the Dubai Air Show in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. “An IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at the Dubai Air Show today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident,” according to the Indian Air Force. Photo Provided by EPA
An Indian fighter jet crashed Friday at the Dubai Air Show, which left its pilot dead after the aircraft went up in flames upon impact.
The Tejas fighter jet reportedly crashed after 2 p.m. local time during aerial fly demonstrations at Al Maktoum International Airport in the United Arab Emirates as crowds looked on in shock.
According to the Indian Air Force, the pilot behind the single-seat light combat aircraft died in the crash.
“An IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at the Dubai Air Show today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident. Indian Air Force deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief,” said IAF officials.
A Tejas fighter aircraft from India participating in today’s flying display at the Dubai Airshow has crashed, resulting in the tragic death of the pilot. Firefighting and emergency teams responded rapidly to the incident and are currently managing the situation on-site. pic.twitter.com/LpdE87YjLM— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) November 21, 2025
Meanwhile, the cause of the crash was not immediately clear.
The IAF added that a “court of inquiry is being constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident.”
The Tejas, a 4.5-generation multi-role combat aircraft developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, was designed with a key zero-zero ejection seat feature to allow pilots to eject safely at a high speed and altitude and flies in difficult patterns.
On Friday, India’s defense chief stated he was “deeply anguished” by the loss of the “brave and courageous” IAF pilot.
“My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. The nation stands firmly with the family in this tragic hour,” said Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.
The biennial Dubai Air Show is one of the world’s largest aviation exhibitions.
It coincided with major revelations this week by FlyDubai and luxury airline Emirates that multi-billion-dollar aircraft purchases were in the works.
Friday’s show of India’s new military jet arrived after the country invested massively over the last decade to update and replace the South Asian country’s fleet of aging Cold War-era MiG-21 fighter jets after reported deadly crashes.
In 2023, the Indian government temporarily grounded its entire fleet of MiG-21’s following a crash left three people dead in Rajasthan province.
The air show’s organizing committee, meanwhile, expressed its “deepest condolences and sincere sympathy to the family of the pilot who lost his life today in a plane crash while participating in the aerial display accompanying the exhibition.”
The Committee also extended its deepest condolences to the Indian Air Force and “wishes for the safety of all its members,” it posted on X, adding reaffirmed “solidarity with his family in this painful loss.”
