Indian Air Force’s Tejas fighter plane crashes at Dubai Air Show, pilot dies

An Air Force’s (IAF) Tejas fighter plane on Friday crashed at the Dubai Air Show. The pilot died in the accident.

“An IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at Dubai Air Show today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident,” the IAF said in a statement.

The IAF further said that a court of inquiry was being constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident.

The news agency PTI has shared a video of the crash.

VIDEO | Dubai: A Tejas fighter jet taking part in the Dubai Air Show nosedived during an aerial display and crashed this afternoon. The HAL-manufactured aircraft went down around pm local time while performing manoeuvres in front of a large audience. An official statement from… pic.twitter.com/qirtaKLivu

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 21, 2025

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India has inducted around 40 indigenous Tejas fighters so far and placed orders with the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for 180 more aircraft.

Tejas fighters were part of the IAF’s contingent at the Dubai Air Show. The contingent also included the Suryakiran aerobatic team.

“The global event, with participation from over 100 Air Forces, aims to enhance interoperability, operational edge, and foster military as well as business cooperation. The event is scheduled to take place at Al Maktoum Airbase from 17 to 21 November 2025,” the IAF said in a statement earlier this month.

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