Tragedy at Dubai Airshow: Indian Tejas Fighter Jet Crashes, Pilot Killed
Summary
A tragic accident occurred on Friday, November 21, 2025, at the prestigious Dubai Airshow when an Indian Tejas fighter jet crashed during a live aerial display, resulting in the death of the pilot.
Spectators at the Middle East’s largest aviation event were horrified as the aircraft, a Tejas Mark 1, reportedly nose-dived and collided with the ground in a “ball of fire” approximately 8 to 9 minutes into its performance. Witnesses described seeing multiple fireballs and thick black smoke rising from the fenced airstrip shortly after the crash at 2:15 p.m. local time. Emergency teams and firefighting crews were immediately deployed to the site to manage the smoldering wreckage.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has confirmed the casualty and announced that a court of inquiry is being constituted to determine the cause of the accident.[1] This incident marks the second known crash of the home-produced jet, which is manufactured by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and powered by General Electric (GE) engines. GE has issued a statement expressing deep sympathy and readiness to support the investigation.
The crash comes as a significant setback for India’s defense sector, which has been showcasing the Tejas to gauge interest from foreign buyers and modernize its own fleet. Despite the tragedy, flying operations at the airshow resumed later in the day.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/india/indias-home-built-fighter-jet-tejas-crashes-dubai-air-show-2025-11-21/