DUBAI – An Indian Tejas fighter jet crashed during a demonstration flight at the Dubai Air Show on Friday, killing its only pilot, according to a report by AP News.
The aircraft plunged into the ground at Al Maktoum International Airport, creating a massive fireball and thick black smoke that halted activities at the venue, AP News stated.
Emergency crews, including police, ambulances and a helicopter, rushed to the crash site and sprayed firefighting foam as spectators watched in shock from the grandstands.
Witnesses told AP News that the jet appeared to lose control before diving sharply into the ground in front of families attending the show’s closing demonstrations.
The Indian Air Force confirmed the incident, saying the pilot “sustained fatal injuries in the accident” and that it “deeply regrets the loss of life” in a statement carried by AP News.
The Air Force added that a court of inquiry “is being constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident,” stressing its commitment to the bereaved family.
Authorities in the United Arab Emirates also opened a parallel investigation, according to AP News, as firefighters continued working around the smoldering wreckage.
The Dubai Media Office said on X that emergency teams “responded rapidly to the incident and are currently managing the situation on-site.”
An SUV with diplomatic plates displaying the Indian flag was later seen near the cordoned-off area alongside several police and emergency units.
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The air show resumed about 90 minutes after the crash, AP News reported, with the Russian Knights flight team performing overhead while crews were still active on the ground.
India’s Tejas is a lightweight, single-engine fighter built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and intended to boost India’s fighter fleet amid rising regional tensions, AP News explained.
In September, India signed a contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to procure 97 Tejas jets, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2027, according to the report.
AP News added that an earlier order for 83 Tejas aircraft faced delays due to shortages of U.S.-made engines required for the fleet’s completion.
India’s Press Information Bureau recently dismissed social media claims alleging an oil leak involving a Tejas jet at the Dubai Air Show, describing the posts as “false” attempts to undermine the aircraft.
Military officials told AP News that videos circulating online showed “routine, intentional draining of condensed water,” a standard practice in Dubai’s humid conditions.
AP News recalled that a Tejas jet crashed in India’s Rajasthan state last year, though the pilot safely ejected in that incident.
