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An Indian military aircraft met with disaster at the Dubai Air Show on Friday, resulting in the death of the pilot, according to officials.
Social media footage captured the dramatic moment the IAF Tejas fighter jet erupted into flames upon impact, leaving spectators at the event visibly shocked.
The Indian Air Force expressed their condolences on X, confirming the pilot’s tragic death and announcing an investigation to uncover the crash’s cause. “The IAF mourns this loss and extends heartfelt sympathy to the family during this difficult time,” they stated.
The Dubai Media Office also commented on the incident, noting, “An Indian Tejas fighter involved in today’s airshow display has tragically crashed, claiming the life of its pilot. Emergency response teams acted swiftly and are managing the aftermath on-site.”
Emergency responders were quickly at the scene of the crash, which occurred during a demonstration at the Dubai Air Show, held at Al Maktoum International Airport on Friday, November 21, 2025. (Image courtesy of Dubai Media Office via AP)
An SUV bearing diplomatic plates flying the Indian flag was seen at the crash site, along with police and emergency personnel.
The air show later resumed flight demonstrations, with the Russian Knights aerobatics team flying overhead as emergency crews still worked the crash site, the Associated Press reported.
Tejas is India’s indigenous fighter aircraft, built by state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
Smoke billows following a crash of an Indian Tejas fighter jet, after it lost altitude and crashed during an aerial display at the Dubai Air Show in this screengrab obtained from an eyewitness video. (Jignesh Variya/Reuters)
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 defense ties with India’s rival Pakistan, according to the AP.
In September, India’s Defense 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 fighter jet is seen flying during a demonstration moments before crashing at the Dubai Air Show on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (Jon Gambrell/AP)
A Tejas fighter jet crashed in the western Indian state of Rajasthan last year, but the pilot ejected safely in that incident.