Indian ‘Tejas’ Fighter Jet Crashes at Dubai Airshow, Pilot Killed

An Indian Tejas fighter jet crashed during a demonstration flight at the Dubai Airshow, killing the pilot. The incident occurred on Friday (21 November) around midday local time.

According to NDTV, the Indian Air Force (IAF) confirmed that the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)-manufactured aircraft lost control during a demo flight and crashed. Thick black smoke billowed across the Al Maktoum International Airport area after the crash.

Citing PTI and AP, reports say the jet crashed at around 2:10 pm local time. A video circulating on social media shows the aircraft plummeting before erupting into flames.

In a statement, the IAF expressed deep sorrow over the pilot’s death and announced that an investigation committee would be formed to determine the cause of the crash.

The five-day Dubai Airshow, which began on 17 November, features pavilions from 21 countries. According to the final day’s schedule, the Tejas aircraft was slated for a demonstration flight at 2:15 pm local time.