Dubai, November 21: An Indian Tejas fighter jet crashed during an air show at the Dubai Air Show. The aircraft flipped in mid-air, then lost control and caught fire on the ground. Emergency services rushed to the scene as heavy smoke and fire rose from the crash site near the perimeter of the airbase. Further details about the condition of the pilot and the cause of the crash are not yet available.
Confirming the incident, the Indian Air Force issued an official statement. “IAF Tejas crashes during Dubai Air Show-25. More details are being confirmed at this time. More details will be shared shortly.”
The Indian Air Force Tejas fighter jet has reportedly crashed during a performance at the Dubai Air Show. The Tejas fighter jet crashed at around 2:10 pm local time. It was not immediately clear whether the pilot ejected. Black smoke was seen over Al Maktoum International Airport, where the air show was taking place.
This is the second accident involving a Tejas aircraft, the first being near Jaisalmer in 2024. The Dubai Airshow Tejas crash is the second fatality of the fighter jet since it was inducted in the mid-2010s. In March last year, a Tejas fighter jet crashed near Jaisalmer. The pilot ejected safely.