Indian Defense
Date of Event:
Nov 21, 2025
Black smoke has been seen at the Al Maktoum International Airport following reports of a crash. The Indian Air Force has confirmed the death of the pilot.
An Indian-built fighter jet crashed during a display at the Dubai Air Show on Friday, news agencies reported.
Authorities in Dubai said emergency teams were on site and firefighters were battling the blaze.
What do we know about the crash?
The crash happened around 2.10 p.m. (1010 GMT) after the plane performed a low roll, crashing in flames around 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) from the show site.
Crowds had gathered to watch the air show at the Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central, in the United Arab Emirates.
The Associated Press reported that the jet had flown across the display site several times before it appeared to lose control and dive directly toward the ground. The pilot was killed in the impact.
"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," Dubai's state-run media office posted on X.
The death was confirmed by an Indian Air Force statement.
"IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief," it said, adding that "a court of inquiry is being constituted, to ascertain the cause of the accident."
Aditya Raj Kaul, a journalist from India's NDTV, shared footage of the crash on social media, saying there were no reports of a pilot ejection.
What is the Indian-built Tejas jet?
The single-engine, lightweight Tejas jet is built by the Indian state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, or HAL.
India's Defense Ministry ordered 97 of the jets to boost its depleted air force, made up of mostly Russian and ex-Soviet aircraft, amid an expansion of Chinese military presence in South Asia and increasing ties with Indian rival Pakistan.
Friday's crash is the second-known case involving a Tejas jet. Another crash was reported during an exercise in Rajasthan in India in 2024. The pilot in that instance managed to escape.
Deliveries of the jet have been delayed due to the need to import engines, made by General Electric, from the US.
An Indian-built fighter jet crashed during a display at the Dubai Air Show on Friday, news agencies reported.
Authorities in Dubai said emergency teams were on site and firefighters were battling the blaze.
What do we know about the crash?
The crash happened around 2.10 p.m. (1010 GMT) after the plane performed a low roll, crashing in flames around 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) from the show site.
Crowds had gathered to watch the air show at the Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central, in the United Arab Emirates.
The Associated Press reported that the jet had flown across the display site several times before it appeared to lose control and dive directly toward the ground. The pilot was killed in the impact.
"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," Dubai's state-run media office posted on X.
The death was confirmed by an Indian Air Force statement.
"IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief," it said, adding that "a court of inquiry is being constituted, to ascertain the cause of the accident."
Aditya Raj Kaul, a journalist from India's NDTV, shared footage of the crash on social media, saying there were no reports of a pilot ejection.
What is the Indian-built Tejas jet?
The single-engine, lightweight Tejas jet is built by the Indian state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, or HAL.
India's Defense Ministry ordered 97 of the jets to boost its depleted air force, made up of mostly Russian and ex-Soviet aircraft, amid an expansion of Chinese military presence in South Asia and increasing ties with Indian rival Pakistan.
Friday's crash is the second-known case involving a Tejas jet. Another crash was reported during an exercise in Rajasthan in India in 2024. The pilot in that instance managed to escape.
Deliveries of the jet have been delayed due to the need to import engines, made by General Electric, from the US.
