An Indian HAL Tejas fighter jet crashed during a demonstration flight at the Dubai Airshow on Friday, killing its sole pilot and bringing the event to a temporary halt.
The light-combat aircraft went down seconds after takeoff at Al Maktoum International Airport, erupting into a fireball and sending thick black smoke into the sky. Emergency crews, including firefighters, ambulances and a police helicopter, rushed to the crash site and quickly extinguished the blaze.
Spectators in the grandstand gasped as the aircraft appeared to lose control before plunging directly into the ground. Families, first-time visitors and aviation enthusiasts described the scene as “shocking” and “hard to believe.” Several witnesses told local media that the pilot appeared to manoeuvre the jet away from the crowd moments before impact.
SHOCKING SCENES as India's Tejas jet crashes before the world at Dubai Airshow#Tejas #India #Jets #TejasMk1A pic.twitter.com/NdF3IjoG4n
— The Friday Times (@TFT_) November 21, 2025
The Indian Air Force confirmed the pilot’s death, expressing “deep regret” and announcing that a court of inquiry would investigate the cause. The UAE Ministry of Defence also said its teams responded immediately and were managing the situation.
The crash occurred on the final day of the biennial air show, one of the world’s largest aviation events. Flights were suspended for more than an hour before resuming with an aerobatic display by the Russian Knights, followed later by the UAE’s Al Fursan team.
The Tejas, India’s indigenous single-engine fighter built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, has been central to New Delhi’s plans to modernise its air fleet. India recently signed contracts to procure nearly 200 Tejas aircraft, though deliveries have faced delays due to engine shortages.
Social media videos earlier this week showed liquid dripping from a Tejas on display, but India’s military dismissed the footage as misinterpreted, calling it routine condensation drainage.
The accident cast a sombre shadow over the closing hours of the air show, which drew more than 1,500 exhibitors this year.