India’s Tejas jet crashes at Dubai Airshow: Spectators recount final moment

Dubai: Spectators at the Dubai Airshow were left stunned and terrified after an Indian Tejas fighter jet crashed during a mid-afternoon aerial display, turning a festive final day into a scene of shock and disbelief.

A Gulf News reporter on the ground said a pall of gloom swept across the venue as the aircraft went down, sending a thick column of smoke into the sky while emergency teams raced towards the crash site.

The airshow had been packed since morning, drawing large crowds eager for the last round of aerobatics. Around 1:30pm, India’s Surya Kiran team lit up the skies with a formation celebrating India–UAE ties, earning loud applause—especially after a heart-shaped manoeuvre that saw hundreds reach for their phones.

‘The moment everything changed’

Minutes later, the roar of an F-35 gripped the crowd. Just after 2:10pm, another jet appeared—quickly identified by aviation journalists as India’s Tejas. About three minutes into its routine, the aircraft climbed steeply before appearing to lose power mid-ascent, then plunged sharply toward open ground in front of spectators. The impact was deafening.

‘Panic and disbelief among visitors’

For a moment, I froze—phone still recording—as chaos erupted around me. “Oh my God… I hope the pilot is fine,” a Filipina visitor cried beside me, her voice shaking.

Others described the panic that swept through the crowd. “We were watching the airshow and suddenly we saw smoke and an explosion. People started running and screaming, then the ambulance quickly came,” said witness Shahad Alnaqbi.

‘He tried to save the crowd’

Indian expat Shajudheen Jabbar, who was watching with his wife Shiny and daughter Ashley, said the tragedy unfolded in seconds.

“It was a wonderful show until this tragic accident took place. From the way the flight turned before it went down, I strongly feel the pilot tried to save the people watching. It’s so unfortunate he couldn’t escape. It’s heartbreaking to see someone die in front of you—especially knowing it was an Indian fighter jet pilot,” he said.

First-time visitors shaken by the crash

“It was a tragic and unexpected incident. This was my first Airshow. I had just entered the aerial show area with my brother, Muhammad Usman, when I suddenly saw a jet go down. It is unfortunate to learn that it was our Tejas. We have read that the pilot did not survive. Our heartfelt condolences,” said Hafiz Faisal Madni, a Dubai resident for eight years.

‘Hard to believe’

As visitors streamed into the Dubai Airshow, a chilling moment unfolded when a jet suddenly plunged from the sky.

“I was walking into the show when I saw the jet go down. It was a shocking incident. It’s hard to believe something like this could happen. It felt as if there had been a power failure for a jet to plunge like that,” recalled Najeeb Peruli, a long-time Dubai resident.

Impact felt in nearby community

Winston Lobo, a resident of Emaar South, said the crash was felt across the nearby community.

“It happened very close to my house. I heard a loud bang… I honestly thought piles of pipes had tumbled down. The jet went down in a rubble area very close to our community,” said Lobo, an advertising and PR professional who has lived in the UAE for 18 years.

“It’s sad that we lost our fighter jet and the pilot. May his soul rest in peace,” added the Indian expat.

‘Immediate emergency response’

A defence expert nearby said the chances of survival appeared slim. An official photographer later confirmed the aircraft was the Tejas, scheduled third in the afternoon lineup.

Within a minute, Civil Defence, police, and paramedics rushed to the scene. A helicopter landed as first responders cordoned off the area. The show was halted and spectators were redirected towards the exhibition halls, many visibly shaken.

A festive finale turns sombre

What had been a vibrant, high-energy finale moments earlier turned sombre in an instant. By 2:40pm, the rescue helicopter lifted off from the crash site, and visitors quietly began leaving—some whispering prayers, others still trying to process what they had just witnessed.