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A horrific tragedy struck the Dubai Airshow today. An Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot has died after his HAL Tejas fighter jet crashed during a live aerial demonstration.
The incident unfolded this afternoon, Friday, November 21, 2025. The indigenously developed combat aircraft went down around 2:10 PM local time / 3:10 PM PKT. This disaster casts a deep shadow over the final day of the biennial event at Al Maktoum International Airport.
The aircraft had successfully flown across the site several times, performing complex manoeuvres for the crowd. Suddenly, the situation turned fatal. The jet appeared to lose control mid-manoeuvre. It nosedived directly toward the ground just prior to impact.
The plane crashed inside the grounds of the airfield and exploded into flames. Consequently, thick black smoke billowed over the venue. Sirens wailed immediately as emergency crews rushed to the scene. Spectators watched in shock as the celebration of aviation turned into a disaster site.
The Indian Air Force confirmed the pilot’s death shortly after the incident. They issued a sombre statement regarding the loss.
The IAF stated:
The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident.
IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief.
Furthermore, authorities have ordered an immediate investigation. The IAF announced that a court of inquiry is being constituted to ascertain the exact cause of the accident.
This crash raises urgent questions about safety and reliability for India’s home-grown defence technology. The incident comes at a sensitive time. Just yesterday, the Indian Ministry of Defence had to dismiss viral social media claims of an “oil leak” on the HAL Tejas as “baseless propaganda”. They clarified that the fluid seen in videos was routine water condensation. However, today’s crash has brought renewed scrutiny to the program.
This marks the second recorded crash for the Tejas platform. Previously, a Tejas Mk1 crashed in Jaisalmer, India, in March 2024, though the pilot ejected safely during that incident.
The Dubai Airshow had seen major commercial success earlier in the week, with massive aircraft orders from Emirates and FlyDubai. Now, however, the prestigious event concludes on a mournful note.
