A CECA Indian Air Force Tejas fighter jet crashed during a flight demonstration at the Dubai Air Show in the UAE

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An Indian Air Force Tejas fighter jet crashed during a flight demonstration at the Dubai Air Show in the UAE, the military confirmed the pilot tragically lost his life. #fighter #crash #death #India

 

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Pilot killed as Indian fighter jet crashes at Dubai Air Show​

Indian Air Force confirms death of pilot in incident at Al Maktoum International Airport​

The Associated Press · Posted: Nov 21, 2025 5:56 AM EST | Last Updated: 1 hour ago

The pilot of an Indian combat plane died after the aircraft crashed Friday during a demonstration flight for spectators at the Dubai Air Show, the Indian Air Force said.

The Indian HAL Tejas, a combat aircraft used in the Indian Air Force, crashed around 2:10 p.m. local time after the pilot had flown across the site of the biennial air show in Dubai several times.

The plane appeared to lose control and dive directly toward the ground just prior to crashing inside the grounds of the airfield.

The Indian Air Force confirmed the crash in a statement and said "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," it said, adding that "a court of inquiry is being constituted, to ascertain the cause of the accident."

Police and emergency personnel could be seen at the crash site afterward, with firefighting foam sprayed across the road. An SUV bearing diplomatic plates flying the Indian flag also could be seen.

"Firefighting and emergency teams responded rapidly to the incident and are currently managing the situation on-site," the Dubai Media Office, which responds to crises in the sheikhdom, said on X.

The air show resumed flight demonstrations about an hour-and-a-half afterward, with the Russian Knights flying overhead as emergency crews still worked the crash site.

Tejas is India's indigenous fighter aircraft, built by state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The lightweight, single-engine jet is expected to bolster India's depleted fighter fleet as China expands its military presence in South Asia, including by strengthening defence ties with India's rival Pakistan.

In September, India's Defence Ministry signed a contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, or HAL, to procure 97 Tejas jets for the air force. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2027.

The Indian government also signed a deal with HAL in 2021 for 83 Tejas aircraft. Deliveries, expected last year, have been delayed largely because of shortages of engines that must be imported from the United States.

The Dubai Air Show, which originated in the mid-1980s, has featured over 200 aircraft this year, per the show's website.

On Thursday, India's Press Information Bureau rejected some social media claims alleging that a Tejas aircraft had experienced an oil leak while on display at the air show. In a statement on X, it called the posts "false" and said they were attempts to undermine the "fighter's proven technical reliability with baseless propaganda."

It was unclear whether the aircraft in question was the one that crashed on Friday.

A Tejas fighter jet crashed in the western Indian state of Rajasthan last year, but the pilot ejected safely in that incident.

 

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Soon, SIA and Scoot planes with CECA pilots will meet the same fate.

It's not If but When!

 

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[glockman]

Soon, SIA and Scoot planes with CECA pilots will meet the same fate.

It's not If but When!

Thanks for the heads up, will avoid these airlines.

 

[Gutted]

Thanks for the heads up, will avoid these airlines.

India is nothing but a mess. After 5000 years of civilisation, it's still a damn mess because selfishness is their dominant cultural characteristics

 

[glockman]

India is nothing but a mess. After 5000 years of civilisation, it's still a damn mess because selfishness is their dominant cultural characteristics

It's a shit country with shit people. North to South and East to West, all shit! And pap is importing them to SG, fucking hell.

 

[3_M]

Soon, SIA and Scoot planes with CECA pilots will meet the same fate.

It's not If but When!

 

[syed putra]

No need for a funeral pyre.

 

[supreme]

India is nothing but a mess. After 5000 years of civilisation, it's still a damn mess because selfishness is their dominant cultural characteristics

That's right. Spot on. I find them the most selfish and arrogant yet stupidest b@stards in the world. Usually in airshows , every Country would send their star or best pilots to show off. Now u know the standard of rest of india pilots. Really sh!tty qualities. SIA pilots from india are same qualities. Like this year air infia crash where the pilot switched off the fuel line. Same problem here probably. Worse they later sue Boeing for having a fuel line cut off switch. Always play victim as usual and blame others. A hallmark of such peiple..never associate with them.