An Indian Air Force Tejas fighter jet crashed during a flying display at the Dubai Airshow on Friday afternoon, killing the pilot and sending a large plume of black smoke into the air near Dubai International Airport.
The aircraft went down shortly after 14:10 local time during an aerobatic manoeuvre watched by families, aviation enthusiasts and visitors attending the final day of the biennial event. Video posted online showed the jet descending rapidly before striking the ground and exploding on impact.
Dubai Media Office confirmed the fatality in an official post on X and said firefighting and emergency teams responded rapidly and were managing the situation on site.
The Indian Air Force said the pilot sustained fatal injuries and that it deeply regretted the loss of life. It added that a court of inquiry would be set up to determine the cause of the crash. No further details have been released on what led to the sudden loss of altitude.
The Tejas is a light combat aircraft designed and built by India’s state owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. It is a single engine multirole fighter used for air defence, interception and strike missions and can operate over land and sea. The aircraft features a highly manoeuvrable delta wing design, digital fly by wire controls and composite materials intended to reduce weight and increase durability.
The latest version, known as the LCA Mk1A, includes an AESA radar, an advanced electronic warfare suite, digital mapping and modern cockpit displays. India has been expanding its Tejas fleet and plans to introduce upgraded variants over the coming years.
Emergency teams remained at the scene on Friday afternoon and officials in Dubai have not issued additional public guidance.
