Foreign media reports indicate the Tejas aircraft, despite having a technical fault, was flown during the exhibition. The crash happened suddenly at 2:10 PM local time on Friday afternoon during a mid-air display in front of a large crowd observing the Dubai Air Show.
LCA Tejas crashed during the Dubai Airshow.
No Pilot ejection spotted.
More details awaited. pic.twitter.com/2VKxmTzvEH
Following the crash, emergency security was significantly increased outside the Indian stall at the event. High-profile personalities who came to watch the demonstration were swiftly sent back into the exhibition hall amidst the chaos.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) confirmed the pilot’s death due to the crash of the Tejas fighter jet in Dubai. The IAF expressed deep regret over the loss of life and affirmed its strong support for the grieving family during this difficult time.
HAL LCA Tejas has crashed at the Dubai Air Show 2025
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Developing Story 🚨 pic.twitter.com/Yn1R1c9zGm
The Indian Air Force is forming a Court of Inquiry to determine the precise causes of the unfortunate accident. The Tejas is a single-engine fighter and is India’s first completely indigenous combat aircraft, with over 50% of its components manufactured domestically.
The preliminary reports mentioning a technical fault before take-off raise serious questions about flight safety protocols for demonstration runs. This incident is a major setback for the ambitious indigenous defense program, demanding an immediate and thorough investigation into the maintenance and airworthiness standards of the Tejas fleet.
