Dubai, November 21. An Indian Air Force Tejas fighter aircraft crashed during an aerial display at the Dubai Airshow on Friday, killing its pilot, the IAF confirmed.
The indigenous Light Combat Aircraft was performing a demonstration when it went down at the ongoing aviation exhibition, one of the largest of its kind globally.
“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,” the Air Force said in a statement posted on X. A court of inquiry has been ordered to determine the cause of the crash.
This is the second accident involving the Tejas programme. In March 2024, a Tejas jet crashed near Jaisalmer in Rajasthan – the first such incident since the aircraft’s maiden flight in 2001. The pilot ejected safely in that case.
Tejas is a 4.5-generation, multi-role fighter designed for air defence, ground attack, and maritime missions. It represents a major component of India’s push for indigenisation in combat aviation.
The crash comes during a high-profile week for India at the Dubai Airshow. On Tuesday, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) signed a landmark deal with German defence electronics firm HENSOLDT to co-develop a LiDAR-based Obstacle Avoidance System for military helicopters, reviving advanced defence technology cooperation between the two countries after nearly three decades.
