Pilot died after India's HAL Tejas fighter jet crashed on Friday afternoon during an aerial demonstration at the Dubai Air Show. A court of inquiry is being constituted to determine the cause of the drastic accident.
The combat aircraft used in the Indian Air Force, crashed around 2:10 p.m. local time while flying a demo flight for a crowd. Black smoke rose over the Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central as a crowd of spectators watched, and sirens sounded after the crash.
It wasn't immediately clear if the pilot ejected or if anyone was injured in the incident.
“An IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at Dubai Air Show, today. IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief,” official statement of from the Indian Air Force said.
The visuals of the crash are making rounds on the social media and being aired on various TV channels, showing the jet dropping altitude and then crashing on the ground, engulfed in a ball of fire.
The Dubai Media Office on Friday said that emergency teams and firefighters have reached the IAF Tejas crash site and are managing the situation.
In a post on X, the Dubai Media Office said, "A Tejas fighter aircraft from India participating in today's flying display at the Dubai Airshow has crashed, resulting in the tragic death of the pilot. Firefighting and emergency teams responded rapidly to the incident and are currently managing the situation on-site."
Defence Minister of India, Rajnath Singh, condoling the pilot’s death, wrote in a post on X, “Deeply anguished at the loss of a brave and courageous IAF pilot during an aerial display in Dubai Air Show. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. The nation stands firmly with the family in this tragic hour.”
CDS General Anil Chauhan also expressed regret at the loss of life during the accident.
"General Anil Chauhan, CDS and all ranks of Indian Armed Forces deeply regret the incident in which an IAF Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at Dubai Air Show, today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident. We deeply regret the loss of life and stand firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief," the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff said in its statement.
The city-state's second airport was hosting the biennial Dubai Air Show, which has seen major aircraft orders by both the long-haul carrier Emirates and its lower-cost sister airline FlyDubai.
The 2025 edition of the Dubai Air Show is being hosted from November 17-21. This year, over 1,500 leading exhibitors and more than 1.48 lakh industry professionals from 150 countries are participating in the event, the Indian defence ministry had said on November 18.
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